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Cyprus Issues €5 Commemorative Coin For EU Council Presidency

Commemorative Coin Highlights Cyprus’ European Role

The Central Bank of Cyprus issued a €5 silver collector coin titled “Rigaina’s Castles” to mark Cyprus’ presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2026. The release forms part of the country’s broader programme linked to its upcoming EU role.

Design And Symbolism

Dated 2026 and produced in proof quality, the coin draws on the myth of Rigaina’s Castles, according to the Press and Information Office. Its design also incorporates the official logo of Cyprus’ EU Council presidency, featuring a stylised sun associated with the island.

Craftsmanship And Limited Edition Status

Greek artist George Stamatopoulos designed the coin, which was produced at the Bank of Greece printing works. The issue is limited to 2,000 pieces, each with a nominal value of €5 and a retail price of €65. Each coin has a diameter of 38.61 mm and weighs 28.28 grams. It is made from an alloy containing 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper.

Structured Release And Sales Process

Distribution will take place in two phases. The first runs from March 16 to April 8, 2026, and includes professional dealers, organisations and individual buyers.

From April 15, 2026, sales will continue through Central Bank counters on a first-come, first-served basis. Purchase limits will apply during both phases to manage distribution.

Payment And Application Details

Professional dealers are required to submit applications online and complete registration procedures. Card payments are accepted for online purchases, while both cash and cards are available at physical counters.

Legacy And Future Implications

The release is part of Cyprus’ commemorative programme linked to its EU Council presidency. It reflects cultural references alongside the country’s institutional role within the European Union.

Cypriot Startup LIVIA Wins Europe’s Top Youth Entrepreneurship Competition

A Cypriot university team has won the European GEN-E 2026 youth entrepreneurship competition with LIVIA, a smart agriculture platform that combines satellite data, autonomous drones and artificial intelligence to help farmers improve irrigation, detect disease earlier and reduce pesticide use.

Alongside first place, the team received the FedEx Access Award, expanding its access to investors, entrepreneurs and industry experts across Europe.

Initially developed for vineyards, LIVIA analyses individual plants and turns complex data into practical recommendations. The team is now preparing its first functional product and pilot projects in Cyprus, with plans to expand into additional crops and international markets.

From An Idea To Smart Agriculture

LIVIA began with a simple question: how could satellite data create practical value in everyday life? After exploring applications ranging from meteorology to marine biology, the team identified agriculture as the sector with the greatest potential.

Recognising the limitations of satellite imagery alone, particularly in resolution and update frequency, the founders integrated autonomous drones into the platform to provide more detailed field data.

Designed as a modular system, LIVIA can continuously incorporate new data sources and capabilities. Its initial focus is irrigation management, early disease detection and plant health monitoring, with vineyards serving as the first use case because of their importance to Cyprus and the team’s own experience.

Turning Data Into Decisions

Satellite imagery provides continuous monitoring of crops, while autonomous drones capture high-resolution images whenever greater precision is needed.

Artificial intelligence then combines those datasets with information collected by growers, including IoT sensors and field observations, to generate tailored recommendations for irrigation, disease prevention and resource management.

By analysing each plant individually, the platform enables precision agriculture rather than field-wide recommendations.

Building A Hardware And Software Startup

Developing LIVIA has required balancing advanced software with specialised hardware, including drones, multispectral cameras and charging stations, all while operating with limited resources.

Although the startup participates in the Bank of Cyprus IDEA programme and has secured non-equity funding, integrating multiple data sources into a reliable AI system remains its biggest technical challenge.

The Role Of Junior Achievement

Participation in the JA StartUp Programme helped transform the original concept into a business proposition through mentoring, coaching and pitch preparation.

Support continued after LIVIA won the national competition, with the Junior Achievement Cyprus team helping the founders prepare for the European final in Latvia.

European Recognition

Winning GEN-E 2026 and the FedEx Access Award marked the team’s biggest milestone to date and created new opportunities to connect with investors, entrepreneurs and industry experts across Europe.

The founders are now focused on completing their minimum viable product, launching pilot projects in Cyprus and expanding the platform to new crops and international markets.

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