Museum objects
1 shown · 4 cited but not shown. An image only appears here if it is openly
licensed and confirmed to depict the object we claim. Otherwise we cite it and link you to
the museum — we would rather show you nothing than show you the wrong thing.
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P-007781/01-25A
European Union Audiovisual Service
image failed verification (wrong object) — cited, not shown
View it at the museum ↗
Maastricht Treaty Signing Photograph
European Union Audiovisual Service · P-007781/01-25A · February 7, 1992
Official EU photograph of the signing of the Maastricht Treaty, which laid the legal foundation for the euro.
Sofia's entire existence was negotiated into being in this room — every clause in this treaty is a small piece of national sovereignty someone agreed to give up for her.
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Kalina banknote design 1996
European Central Bank Archive
no openly-licensed image yet — cited, not shown
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Euro Banknote Design ('Ages and Styles of Europe')
European Central Bank Archive · Kalina banknote design 1996 · Chosen December 3, 1996
Robert Kalina's winning design for euro banknotes, depicting generic architectural styles rather than real, nationally-specific landmarks.
Sofia couldn't show a single real building from a single real country without offending eleven others — so she was designed to look like everywhere and nowhere at once.
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Luycx euro coin design
Royal Belgian Mint
no openly-licensed image yet — cited, not shown
View it at the museum ↗
Euro Coin Design by Luc Luycx
Royal Belgian Mint · Luycx euro coin design · 1996-1999
The winning common-side design for euro coins, created by Belgian designer Luc Luycx at the Royal Belgian Mint.
One side of every euro coin says something different depending which country made it — Sofia's other side had to say the exact same thing everywhere.
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Duisenberg farewell speech 2002
European Central Bank Archive
no openly-licensed image yet — cited, not shown
View it at the museum ↗
ECB Duisenberg Farewell Speech Records
European Central Bank Archive · Duisenberg farewell speech 2002 · February 28, 2002
The official ECB speech marking the final retirement of the seven founding legacy currencies' legal tender status.
This speech is the funeral for seven currencies at once — the deutsche mark, franc, lira, peseta, escudo, drachma, and guilder all officially died the same week Sofia became the only option left.
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Syntagma Square protests category
Wikimedia Commons
image could not be loaded — cited, not shown
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Syntagma Square Protest Photographs (2011)
Wikimedia Commons · Syntagma Square protests category · 2011
Photographs documenting mass protests in Athens against austerity measures during the Greek debt crisis.
Sofia's unity was tested hardest here — a country furious that sharing her meant losing control of its own economic destiny.
Primary sources
The documents themselves. We link and quote — that is citation, and it needs no licence.
How the Euro Became Our Money
official_publication · Ongoing · European Central Bank · European Central Bank
Official ECB publication explaining the history and introduction of the euro.
The ECB's own official booklet explaining how and why the euro was created.
'Whatever It Takes' Speech
speech_transcript · July 26, 2012 · Mario Draghi, European Central Bank · European Central Bank
Transcript of the pivotal ECB speech during the eurozone debt crisis, credited with stabilizing the euro.
The transcript of a famous 2012 speech where the ECB president promised to do whatever was needed to save the euro.
Duisenberg Farewell Speech
speech_transcript · 2002 · Wim Duisenberg, European Central Bank · European Central Bank
Official speech marking the retirement of the founding legacy currencies.
An official 2002 speech marking the end of the old European currencies for good.
Wikimedia Commons: Syntagma Square Protests 2011
photo_archive · 2011 · Wikimedia Commons contributors · Wikimedia Commons
Photo archive of the 2011 Athens protests against austerity during the Greek debt crisis.
A photo collection of massive 2011 protests in Athens against austerity measures tied to the euro crisis.
Maastricht Treaty Full Text
legal_document · 1992 · European Communities · EUR-Lex (EU official law database)
The full legal text of the treaty that established the framework for European Monetary Union.
The actual legal treaty text that set up the plan for a shared European currency.
Where this money travelled
Sofia was born from the Maastricht Treaty and became the shared currency of most of Europe, tested by financial crises from Athens to Frankfurt.
Maastricht, Netherlands50.8514, 5.6910
Frankfurt (ECB HQ)50.1109, 8.6821
Brussels (Cinquantenaire)50.8467, 4.3525
Athens (Syntagma Square)37.9755, 23.7348
Rome41.9028, 12.4964
What we don't know
The page no competitor will build.
- 4 of 5 objects on this page are cited but not shown — either the rights are not cleared, or we could not verify that an available image really depicts the object. We would rather show you nothing than show you the wrong thing.
