In a bid to help the public get accustomed to the different faces of eurozone coins, which will be in circulation when the country adopts the euro on 1 January, carpets depicting 45 different euro coins have been laid along Republic Street in Valletta.

In this euro information campaign with a difference, the European Parliament Information Office in Valletta and the National Euro Changeover Committee (NECC),also got together to provide 7,000 euro converters that are set to serve as a useful tool for small businesses during the dual circulation period.

Speaking during a media event in Republic Street yesterday, NECC executive chairman Alan Camilleri said that a recent Eurobarometer survey showed that the Maltese were among the least familiar with eurozone coins.

More than 60 different euro coin faces exist and it is difficult to give an exact number, since commemorative coins are minted by different eurozone countries every so often, said Mr Camilleri, adding that places like Vatican City and Monaco also have their very own euro coins.

However, these can all be used in each of the 13 eurozone countries, as well as Malta and Cyprus, which adopt the single European currency on 1 January.

Mr Camilleri said the 7,000 euro converters, which are larger than the BOV euro converters distributed to all households, will make it easier for retailers during the first month of euro adoption, when they will have to handle cash in both Maltese lira and euro.

Now that e-day is only 16 days away, people are more interested in the practical aspects of euro adoption, said Mr Camilleri.

He added that people were now more interested than ever in the handling of the currency; in fact, last month alone, about 2,800 calls were received on the euro hotline, said Mr Camilleri.

He appealed to the public to pay retailers the exact amount due during the dual circulation period (lasting until 31 January, 2008) and possibly to start getting rid of the Maltese currency as soon as possible.

Euro notes will be available from almost all of the two main banks’ ATMs at midnight on 1 January, said Mr Camilleri.

The symbolic carpets depicting the euro coins will be maintained daily and will probably be removed in mid-January.

Small businesses wishing to obtain a euro converter may do so by visiting the nearest euro centre in their locality. They will be asked to present their FAIR card or number.