ECB President Christine Lagarde Unveils Design of Bulgaria’s Euro Cent Coins Ahead of Eurozone Entry

Sofia, The Gulf Observer: European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde has unveiled the design of Bulgaria’s euro cent coins, marking a significant step in the country’s preparations to adopt the euro as its official currency.

In a Facebook post, Lagarde shared images of the coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents, describing the announcement as “exciting news for Bulgaria and the euro area.” She noted that the designs, selected by the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB), reflect national traditions and maintain continuity with existing Bulgarian coinage, ensuring a sense of recognition and pride among citizens.

Although the coins will not immediately enter circulation, the preview concludes the series of presentations of Bulgarian euro coins, offering both Bulgarians and Europeans an early glimpse of the national side of the new currency.

Bulgaria is set to officially join the Eurozone on January 1, when the euro will begin replacing the lev. A dual-use period will allow both currencies to circulate simultaneously, with the lev gradually withdrawn. To ensure a smooth transition, banks and merchants will receive supplies of euro coins and banknotes in advance, and ATMs across the country will dispense only euro notes ranging from €5 to €100 from the start of January. Larger denominations of €200 and €500 will remain legal tender in the Eurozone but will not be distributed via ATMs in Bulgaria.

The adoption of the euro is expected to bring numerous benefits to Bulgaria, including greater investor confidence, reduced transaction costs for businesses and citizens, and deeper integration into the European economy.