First strike in tribute to the Euro in Silver-Plated Copper: "Slovakia": Representation of the first 2 Euro commemorative coin 

The Slovak Republic, one of the ten states that joined the European Union as part of its enlargement on May 1, 2004, introduced the single currency into its territory on January 1, 2009. Its first €2 commemorative coin was issued on the same day. On that date, the sixteen members of the Eurozone issued a joint strike celebrating the 10th anniversary of the single currency. Only the inscriptions on its obverse distinguish the issuing country: thus "Slovenska Republica" designates the Slovak Republic and "HMU 1999-2009" is the abbreviation for "Hospodarska a menova unia," meaning "Economic and Monetary Union." in Slovak. The country's first €2 commemorative coin was struck in a relatively limited number of copies (2.5 million) by the national mint of Kremnica. Located in a mining region, it is one of the oldest mints in the world: it has been striking coins and medals continuously since its establishment on November 17, 1328. In 1986, it moved to modern premises on the outskirts of Kremnica, where coins are now manufactured. Medals and official insignia of the republic, however, are still produced in the old mint in the city center.