First euros and last cents to go on sale

THE CENTRAL BANK of Cyprus yesterday announced the issue of the first sets of Cyprus euro coins, along with the last cent coins of the Cyprus pound.

According to a bank statement, “in view of the introduction of the euro on January 1, 2008, we are issuing the above collector items.”

The coins are set in a three-ply brochure placed in a case.

From the total issue limit of 70,000 sets of the first euro coins, 60,000 are allocated for sale outside Cyprus, with 10,000 reserved for domestic sales. The cost is £16.39 (28 euros) per set.

The 8,500 sets of the last cent coins are both for domestic and overseas sales, priced at £10 (17.09 euros).

The Mint of Finland has been given exclusive rights for the sale of the first set of the euro coins outside Cyprus through its official distributors.

The Central Bank, which has the exclusive rights for the domestic sales, will sell the set within Cyprus.

The Bank will sell up to three sets of the last cent coins to collectors from December 3 until December 21. However, the Bank reserves the right to terminate this period earlier, if available quantities are sold out.

Applications from overseas collectors will also be valid.

Plastic box type sets of the last cent coins, minted in 2004, will also be available over the counter at the Central Bank for £6 (10.25 euros).

n For further information please telephone 22-714153 or 22-714224.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.