For the purposes of this Regulation the following definitions shall apply:

1. (a)

   ‘euro’ means the legal currency of participating Member States as defined in Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 974/98 and of those participating third countries which have concluded an agreement with the Community on the introduction of the euro (hereinafter referred to as participating third countries);

2. (b)

   ‘euro symbol’ means the symbol representing the euro ‘€’ as shown and described in Annex I;

3. (c)

   ‘medals and tokens’ means those metallic objects, other than blanks intended for striking coins, which have the appearance and/or technical properties of a coin but are not issued under national or participating third country legislative provisions or other foreign legislative provisions, and which therefore are neither a legal means of payment nor legal tender;

4. (d)

   ‘gold’, ‘silver’ and ‘platinum’ mean alloys containing gold, silver and platinum with a millesimal fineness in weight of at least 375, 500 and 850 respectively. This definition shall not concern hallmarking conventions applicable in Member States;

5. (e)

   ‘European Technical and Scientific Centre’ (hereinafter referred to as ETSC) means the entity established by the Commission Decision of 29 October 2004;

6. (f)

   ‘reference band’ shall have the meaning given to it in Section 1 of Annex II.