Europa In the system of the EEC treaty means of payment are not to be considered as goods falling within the terms of articles 30 to 37 of the treaty. These provisions do not therefore apply to (a) silver alloy coins which are legal tender in a member state, (b) gold coins such as krugerrands which are produced in a non- member country but which circulate freely within a member state. A ban on the export from a member state of silver alloy coins, which have been but are no longer legal tender in that state and the melting down or destruction whereof on national territory is forbidden, which has been adopted with a view to preventing such melting down or destruction in another member state, is justified on grounds of public policy within the meaning of article 36 of the treaty because it stems from the need to protect the right to mint coinage which is traditionally regarded as involving the fundamental interests of the state.
Citations:
C-7/78
European, Commercial
Updated: 10 April 2022; Ref: scu.132587