collectors' edition or canting-arms

For all of the dreadful excellence of history and their respective and combined accomplish-ments, both Germany and France, it seems, rather squander their chances sometimes to mint special series of coins. There is a very byzantine regulation stipulating how often a euro-zone member can issue commemorative coins, the frequency and quantity, that one country is allowed no license for departure. Germany and France have only reinforced their perhaps unwelcome image and esteem as papa and mama euro by continuing to put out coins, two-euro pieces, that are recursive and self-referential to the EU and the currency. Germany’s 2012 model (which is really quite a cute design with construction cranes, wind turbines, sustainable housing and happily integrated families and Germany is issuing a series of coins within its borders that feature landmarks and monuments for each state) is another example, Germany and its neighbor having released coins that celebrate the Treaties of Rome, Maastricht, EU institutions and the Union’s founding personalities, like Robert Schuman. These are all great things that ought to be remembered, honoured and were nicely executed but perhaps not on currency. The symbols of unity and cooperation almost seem as if they risk becoming signs of animosity and division.  Contributing to the reputation that Europe’s more stable economies denigrate and shame the others, they become sort of like educational, public-service comic-book action heroes whose popularity never quite takes off—the EU Super Friends are no match for papa and mama euro.