2 Euros (2nd map)

The 2008 Austrian 2 Euro coin belongs to the second series of euro designs, which updated the map of Europe to include countries that had joined the European Union since the initial launch of the currency in 2002. This adjustment was mandated by the European Commission to ensure the map accurately reflected the expanded political landscape of the eurozone, replacing the previous design that depicted Europe as a group of separate nations.

The reverse side of the coin, common to all eurozone members, features the map of Europe as designed by Luc Luycx of the Royal Belgian Mint. Luycx won a pan-European competition to design the common face of the currency, aiming for a clean, unified aesthetic that emphasized connectivity rather than borders. In Austria, the obverse was designed by Josef Kaiser, who chose to feature the profile of pacifist Bertha von Suttner, reflecting the country's national identity and commitment to peace following the transition from the Austrian Schilling.