Ecu thumbs up

A gold-plated coin embossed with the socialist rose on one side and the designer's thumb print on the other won a competition yesterday to design the European currency unit (Ecu), Reuter reports from Brussels.

The competition, won by a 28- year-old German, Claudia Groenebaum, was organised by the European Socialist Party. 'It's not a run-of-the-mill design, it is quite an unusual idea showing Community spirit, the need to share, the need to show more solidarity,' said Christa Randzio-Plath of the European Parliament.