Coins. International assortment of Ecu coins with the circle of stars which is the symbol of the European Community (EC). The coins have each been minted by individual countries; each country has its own design for each denomination of coin. The Ecu has been proposed by the EC as the currency to be adopted by member states after monetary union. Monetary union is seen by the EC as an important step towards complete European integration. Each of the stars in the symbol represents a member state of the European Community. In 1996 the Ecu has not been formally adopted by any of the EC's member states.