Euro coins go on sale in France, Ireland and the Netherlands

PARIS -- Europe's new currency made its public debut Friday, when euro "starter kits" hit the streets in three countries, and citizens got their first chance to jiggle the coins before they become legal tender on New Year's Day.

Lines formed outside banks, post offices and tobacco shops, where people picked up small plastic bags filled with Europe's newly minted money -- and emerged with mixed reviews.

"They all look the same," said Aldila Goncalves, who bought five packs of the shiny coins at a Champs-Elysees bank as Christmas gifts for her children. "I anticipate making a lot of mistakes."

After months of hype and publicity blitzes surrounding the euro's launch, Friday marked the first time that citizens could actually handle the money, which will soon link cities from Portugal to Finland and Germany.

The kits, which contain all eight denominations of euro coins -- including the highest, a 2-euro coin -- were being sold in France and Ireland, and given away in the Netherlands.

"They're beautiful," said Mika Subotic, at an Amsterdam department store. "I'm going to save them for my future grandchildren."

In France, there were immediate concerns that the 50 million kits distributed around the country would not meet demand.

The starter kits are being distributed two weeks ahead of the euro's official launch to help people acquaint themselves with the new currency. The euro will become the legal tender for some 300 million Europeans in 12 of the European Union's 15 nations. Three countries -- Britain, Denmark and Sweden -- are remaining outside the euro zone.

Paper currency Jan. 1

Notes will not be available until Jan. 1, when the currency enters circulation -- a move intended to keep counterfeiters from getting a head start in copying security features such as watermarks and holograms.

Euros will circulate alongside national currencies for a period of between one and two months, depending on the country.

After that, French francs, German marks, Italian lira and other national currencies within the euro zone will become obsolete. Central banks will still exchange national currencies for several months afterward.