PARIS, Nov 29: Unlike euro bills, which will depict imaginary bridges and windows from an abstract continent, the coins that Europeans from 12 countries will soon jingle in their pockets will reflect 25 centuries of European history.

Greece for example has chosen to decorate one side of its one-euro coin with an owl, a reproduction of a figure minted in the 5th century B.C. and which appeared on Athenian currency — the drachma — of the era.

For their two-euro coins, Greek authorities have chosen a figure from mythology that gave her name to the continent — the young nymph Europa who was abducted by Zeus.

While the seven denominations of euro banknotes scheduled to enter general circulation January 1 will be identical, the European Union decided in 1996 that the eight euro coins would have one face devoted to national cultural institutions or historical events.—AFP