THE NETHERLANDS: INAUGURAL SETS OF NEWLY MINTED EURO COINS ARE STARTING TO BE USED IN PREPARATION FOR 1 JANUARY 2002

Record ID: 649237

  • Title: THE NETHERLANDS: INAUGURAL SETS OF NEWLY MINTED EURO COINS ARE STARTING TO BE USED IN PREPARATION FOR 1 JANUARY 2002
  • Date: 14th December 2001
  • Summary: (W6) MAASTRICHT, THE NETHERLANDS (DECEMBER 14, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL ) 1. TV SHOPPING STREET WITH EU FLAGS; TILT DOWN TO BUSY STREET 0.08 2. GV EXTERIOR ABN AMRO BANK 0.12 3. CU SIGN IN BANK; PAN TO INTERIOR BANK 0.20 4. CU EUROKIT SIGN 0.23 5. PAN TO/CU CUSTOMERS BUYING EURO STARTER KITS (2 SHOTS) 0.34 6. CLOSE UP STARTER KIT 0.38 7. MORE OF CUSTOMERS GETTING STARTER KITS (6 SHOTS) 0.57 8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) JEAN NOEL, HEAD OF ABN AMRO BANK BRANCH, SAYING: "We are one day ahead so that is quite special. Another special thing is that all the citizens above the age of six are able to get some coins for free today, so it's a quite special thing in Europe, I suppose." 1.18 9. VARIOUS OF BANK COUNTER (2 SHOTS) 1.28 10. CLOSE UP COINS 1.32 11. GV EXTERIOR HEMA DEPARTMENT STORE 1.35 12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) GER COPPERS, HEAD OF BRANCH OF HEMA DEPARTMENT STORE, SAYING: "We started this morning at nine o'clock and there were 100 people in line waiting for them. In two hours we gave away 2,000 kits. So it is a very nice number." 1.51 13. VARIOUS PERSON COUNTS COUPONS FOR FREE STARTER KITS / GIVING OUT STARTER KITS (4 SHOTS) 2.11 14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRAN DE VOLDER, A CUSTOMER PICKING UP HIS STARTER KIT, SAYING: "I am ready for it. I think it's a good change. In the beginning people have to get used to it but in the end it will make things better. You don't have to change money anymore when you go on holiday so, that's it." 2.31 15. SMV KITS BEING HANDED OUT 2.37 16. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PATRICIA KNUBBEN, CUSTOMER, SAYING: "It's strange, first I thought it's pretty, but now it's closer to the time, in January, I think it's a little bit strange not to use guilders." 2.53 17. GV EXTERIOR SHELL GAS STATION 2.57 18. WIDE INTERIOR SHELL SHOP 3.00 19. PERSON BEHIND COUNTER GIVES CUSTOMER EURO KITS Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 29th December 2001 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MAASTRICHT, THE NETHERLANDS
  • Country: Netherlands
  • Reuters ID: LVA2H6W1R4CK5FU4S66SZHIF9JS5
  • Story Text: Europeans braved icy temperatures to collect inaugural
    sets of newly minted euro coins as 300 million people in a
    dozen countries got ready for next month's launch of the new
    currency.



    France, Ireland and the Netherlands recorded an
    historic first on Friday (December 14) as the initial three
    countries to sell small boxes of euro coins -- set to become
    collector's items -- to members of the public queuing at
    banks, post offices and shops.

    Millions of coins sold in neat starter kits or loose in
    plastic bags jangled in pockets in an Amsterdam bar, were
    pushed across post office counters in Dublin or bought as
    Christmas gifts in French tobacconist shops.

    Enthusiasm for the shiny new coins was tempered by
    nostalgia for the old currencies. From the tiny copper
    coloured one cent piece to the silver rimmed two euro coin,
    the new coinage also sparked mild amusement.

    "It's strange, first I thought it's pretty, but now it's
    closer to the time, in January, I think it's a little bit
    strange not to use guilders," said Patricia Knubben, a
    customer who picked up her coins at a department store in the
    southeastern Dutch town of Maastricht, where the decision to
    create a Pan-European currency was made in 1992.

    The euro does not enter mass circulation until January 1,
    but starter kits are being sold in all 12 euro countries to
    help the public prepare for the dawn of a new monetary era.

    Kits will be on sale in the other nine countries by Monday
    (December 17).

    Eight euro coins and seven banknotes will replace the vast
    array of national currencies -- from the traditionally stable
    German mark to the volatile lira -- during a massive operation
    to transform Europe's financial and business landscape.

    Around 52 billion new euro coins will become the new loose
    change from Helsinki to Athens by the time all old national
    currencies are scrapped by March, trickling into piggy banks,
    trouser pockets, handbags and wallets across Europe.

    Around 14.9 billion crisp new euro bank notes are being
    printed but will not be available to the public before New
    Year's Day.

    The Dutch government is giving away a free starter kit to
    each member of the public of six years of age or more. Their
    European counterparts must pay for their kits.


    (rb/bl)

  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register