The Motto "GOD, PROTECT BULGARIA" to Appear on Bulgarian 2-Euro Coin

When Bulgaria joins the eurozone and begins issuing euro coins with national elements, the 2-euro coin will feature St. Paisius of Hilendar. Inscribed along the edge of the coin in capital letters will be the motto: "GOD, PROTECT BULGARIA" — a phrase that was used on Bulgarian coins from 1882 to 1943. 

This information was shared with Bulgarian National Radio by Stefan Tsvetkov, Secretary General of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB).

All eurozone coins have a common side shared by all member countries and a national side unique to each. Bulgaria's national designs will include the Madara Horseman on the 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 eurocent coins, and St. Ivan Rilski on the 1-euro coin. The inscriptions on the national side will be in Cyrillic, Tsvetkov noted.

He also pointed out that the name of the euro currency unit will be written not only in Latin and Greek, but also in Cyrillic — as it will be used for payments across 21 eurozone countries and others that have adopted the euro.

The BNB will also provide interactive materials on its website to help identify counterfeit banknotes. Tsvetkov assured that, by the time the euro is introduced, sufficient coins and banknotes of all denominations featuring the Bulgarian national side will be available.

Minting of the Bulgarian euro coins will begin as soon as the official decision to admit Bulgaria into the eurozone is made.