Decision on Medals and Tokens Similar to Euro Coins

RS Official Gazette, No 62/2013
Based on Article 49a, paragraph 4 of the Law on Foreign Exchange Operations (RS Official Gazette, Nos 62/2006, 31/2011 and 119/2012), as well as Article 14, paragraph 1, item 9 and Article 34, item 9 of the Law on the National Bank of Serbia (RS Official Gazette, Nos 72/2003, 55/2004, 85/2005 – other law, 44/2010, 76/2012 and 106/2012), the Executive Board of the National Bank of Serbia hereby issues D E C I S I O N ON MEDALS AND TOKENS SIMILAR TO EURO COINS

1. This Decision sets out the features of medals and tokens that make
   them similar to euro coins.
2. For the purposes of this Decision, the following definitions shall apply:

1. “euro” means the legal tender of the member states of the
   European Monetary Union;
2. “euro symbol” means a symbol representing the euro ‘€’ as shown
   in Annex 1, printed with and integral to this Decision;
3. “medals and tokens” means metallic objects, other than blanks
   intended for striking coins, which have the appearance and/or technical properties of a coin but which are neither legal tender or a legal means of payment in any country;
4. “gold” means alloy containing gold with a millesimal fineness in
   weight of at least 375;
5. “silver” means alloy containing silver with a millesimal fineness in
   weight of at least 500;
6. “platinum” means alloy containing platinum with a millesimal
   fineness in weight of at least 850;
7. “reference band” means a band as defined in Annex 2, printed
   with and integral to this Decision;
8. “economic operator” means a legal or natural person selling,
   producing, importing or distributing medals/tokens similar to euro coins for sale or for other commercial purposes.

3. Medals and tokens are similar to euro coins:

1. when the terms "euro" or "euro cent" or the euro symbol appear on
   their surface;
2. when their size is inside the reference band;
3. when a design appearing on their surface is similar to:

– any design, or parts thereof, appearing on the surface of euro coins, including in particular the terms "euro" or "euro cent", the 12 stars of the European Union, the image of the geographical representation and the numerals, in the way depicted on euro coins, – those symbols representative of national sovereignty of member states, as depicted on euro coins, including in particular the effigies of the head of state, the coat of arms, the mint marks, the mint master marks and the name of state, – the edge shape or the edge design of euro coins, – the euro symbol.
4. All metallic objects the National Bank of Serbia comes in possession of
and determines, in accordance with Section 3 hereof, that they are similar to euro coins, shall be delivered to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) for the purposes of establishing whether these metallic objects may be considered medals or tokens as defined herein and whether they may be confused with euro coins.
5. Notwithstanding Section 3, provision 1) hereof, medal and tokens
bearing the terms "euro" or "euro cent" or the euro symbol without an associated nominal value shall not be considered similar to euro coins when their size is outside the reference band, unless a design similar to one of the elements referred to in Section 3, provision 3) hereof appears on their surface. When a medal or token bears an associated nominal value, the indication "Not legal tender" must be stamped on its obverse or reverse.
6. Notwithstanding Section 3, provision 2) hereof, medals and tokens
whose size is inside the reference band shall not be considered similar to euro coins in the following cases:

1. they are pierced with a hole of over 6 millimetres in the centre, or
   their shape is polygonal but not exceeding six edges, provided the condition under provision 3), indent two of this Section is met;
2. they are made of gold, silver or platinum;
3. they meet the following conditions:
   – the combinations of diameter and edge height of medals and tokens are consistently outside the ranges defined in Annex 2, – the combinations of diameter and metal properties of medals and tokens are consistently outside the ranges defined in Annex 2.

7. Medals and tokens issued or imported before the entry into force of this
   Decision which are, according to this Decision, similar to euro coins may continue to be used until 31 December 2015.

8. Economic operators distributing medals/tokens referred to in Section 7
   of this Decision shall report to the National Bank of Serbia thereof on an annual basis. The report from paragraph 1 hereof shall be signed by the economic operator concerned, and if the economic operator is a legal person, the report shall also be certified. The report shall comprise:
   – detailed description of medals/tokens (appearance of the obverse and reverse, texts, symbols and depictions), – photograph of the obverse and reverse of medals/tokens, – name of producer, – number of medals/tokens in distribution, and – places of their use. No later than 15 January of the current year, economic operators referred to in paragraph 1 hereof shall submit the report from that paragraph as at 31 December of the previous year, so that the first report as at 31 December 2013 is submitted no later than 15 January 2014, and the last, as at 31 December 2015, no later than 15 January 2016. A specimen of the medal/token being reported to the National Bank of Serbia shall be enclosed with the first report.

9. This Decision shall enter into force on the eighth day following its
   publication in the RS Official Gazette.
   NBS EB No 30 Chair of the
   11 July 2013 NBS Executive Board
   B e l g r a d e G o v e r n o r
   National Bank of Serbia
   Dr Jorgovanka Tabaković, sign.

Annex 1
Euro symbol

Annex 2
Definition of the reference band
Reference band is a set of combinations between the values for diameter and values for edge height included in the reference range for diameter and the reference range for edge height, respectively. The reference range for diameter is the one between 19.00 mm and 28.00 mm. The reference range for edge height is the one between 7.00% and 12.00% of each value within the reference range for diameter. Ranges for the diameter and edge height of medals and tokens similar to euro coins Diameter (mm) Edge height (mm)

1. 19.45–20.05 1.63–2.23
2. 21.95–22.55 1.84–2.44
3. 22.95–23.55 2.03–2.63
4. 23.95–24.55 2.08–2.68
5. 25.45–26.05 1.90–2.50
   Ranges for the diameter of medals and tokens similar to euro coins and the properties of metals they are made of Diameter (mm) Metal properties
6. 19.00–21.94 Electrical conductivity between 14.00% and 18.00% IACS
7. 21.95–24.55
   Electrical conductivity between:
   – 14.00% and 18.00% IACS;
   – 4.50% and 6.50% IACS, unless the medal or token is of single alloy and its magnetic moment is outside the range from 1.0 to 7.0 μVs.cm
8. 24.56–26.05
   Electrical conductivity between:
   – 15.00% and 18.00% IACS;
   – 13.00% and 15.00% IACS, unless the medal or token is of single alloy and its magnetic moment is outside the range from 1.0 to 7.0 μVs.cm
9. 26.06–28.00
   Electrical conductivity between 13.00% and 15.00% IACS, unless the medal or token is of single alloy and its magnetic moment is outside the range from 1.0 to 7.0 μVs.cm

Graphical representation of the reference band, limits for dimensions and metal properties

Diameter (mm)

Edge height
(mm)