The idea to issue a common commemorative with this anniversary as the subject was first expressed at a meeting, in 2005, of ECOFIN, the governing body within the EU of the European Monetary Union.
The 13 ministers representing the 13 EU members of the EMU asked their respective National Central Banks to produce a design conceptualising the Treaty of Rome and/or a united Europe. In 2006, the designs were completed and two rounds of voting took place among the MEPs of the EU parliament. The first round resulted in the trial production in very limited number of the top two design choices, the second vote resulted in the final design of the issue from the two trial productions.
The Royal Dutch Mint was commissioned to produce the trials before the results were known in the first round.
The thirteen design choices are as follows:
Austria

The planetary alignment at the time of the signing in 1957 along with twelve signs of the zodiac.
First round votes: .5% (11)
Belgium

Artistic impression of the meeting, during which the Treaty was signed. This design came from one of the few photographs of the meeting.
First round votes: 14% (3)
Finland

Twelve effigies encircled with the familiar twelve stars of the EU flag above them.
First round votes: 7% (6)
France

Robert Schuman, who, along with Konrad Adenauer and Paul-Henri Spaak, is considered a Founding Father of the EU.
First round votes: 5% (7)
Germany

The Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome, where the treaty was signed.
First round votes: 12% (4)
Greece

This concept bears similarity to the Greek 2 Euro standard circulation coin design. A scene from a mosaic in Sparta, showing Europa being abducted by Zeus (a bull). Europa is a figure from Greek mythology after whom Europe was named.
First round votes: 1.5% (10)
Ireland

A tree, the Irish symbol for unity, over a map of a border-less Europe.
First round votes: 1.5% (10)
Italy

Statue of Marcus Aurelius on horseback. A replica of this statue s at the center of the Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome, where the treaty was signed.
First round votes: 9% (5)
Luxembourg

A stylised Piazza del Campidoglio, integrated into the design motif of Luxembourg's standard circulation 1 and 2 Euro coins.
First round votes: 23% (1)*
Second round votes: 41% (2)
Netherlands

Twelve arches, representing the twelve stars of the EU flag, over the Piazza del Campidoglio.
First round votes: 2% (9)
Portugal

A ship, whose central sail depicts the EU flag, floating on a stylised Piazza del Campidoglio. This design concept exemplifies Europe's maritime legacy.
First round votes: .5% (11)
Slovenia

The signed Treaty of Rome with the Piazza del Campidoglio in the background. The Slovenian submission received the second highest votes in the first round and ultimately won the poll, with 59% of the votes in the second round.
First round votes: 21% (2)*
Second round votes: 59% (1)
Another vote was held to confirm the slightly redesigned version, which moved the treaty to the centre of the design and incorporated the German submission concept of the Piazza del Campidoglio.

Spain

Hand holding a seed among a field of stars.
First round votes: 3% (8)





