Of the 19 euro coin issuing EMU members, 6 depict a Head of State. They are:
| Issuing Member | Head of State |
| Belgium | King Albert II |
| Luxembourg | Grand Duke Henri |
| Monaco | Sovereign Prince Albert II |
| Netherlands | Queen Beatrix |
| Spain | King Juan Carlos I |
| Vatican City | Pope Benedict XVI |
For Spain, Netherlands and Luxembourg, the portrait of the Head of State can be updated for around a 2014 issue date, since this is 15 years after the initial issue and/or production date of 1999.
For Vatican City and Monaco, the portrait of the Head of State can be updated for around a 2021 issue date, since this is 15 years after the 2006 change in Heads of State for these EMU euro coin issuing members.
For Belgium, the soonest the portrait of the Head of State can be updated is 2023, since this is 15 years after the 2008 update to the national design included a new portrait of the Head of State.
Should the terms of any of these Heads of State end due to abdication or death, a re-design of the standard circulation national euro coins is allowed, but not required.
