Authentication of euro coins
Article 3
1. Institutions shall ensure that euro coins which they have received and which they intend to put back into circulation are subject to an authentication procedure. They shall implement that obligation by means of: (a) coin-processing machines included in the list of coin-processing machines, referred to in Article 5(2); or (b) personnel trained in accordance with modalities defined by Member States. 2. Following authentication all suspected counterfeit coins and euro coins unfit for circulation shall be submitted to the designated national authority. 3. Counterfeit euro coins handed over to the competent national authorities in accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 shall not be subject to handling or other fees. As regards euro coins unfit for circulation, Chapter III of this Regulation shall apply.