Brussels, 19/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - The number of counterfeit euro coins removed from circulation in 2010 was up 8% on the previous year, with a total of 186,000 coins seized, compared to 172,100 in 2009. Overall, the number of forged coins remains extremely low in relation to the 16 billion genuine euro coins in circulation, which proves that the combined efforts of the European Commission (including the European anti-fraud office, OLAF) and the other institutions of the EU and the member states are paying off. It equates to one counterfeit coin for every 86,000 real ones.
The €2 coin is still by far the most targeted by this crime: three out of every four counterfeit coins (130,300) are €2 coins. The Commission points out that forged coins are rejected by vending machines and other properly-adjusted coin-operated machines. (L.C./transl.fl)