In 1997, the German federal cabinet decided about the motifs of the new euro coins. A lot of requirements were made: the small values of 1, 2 and 5 cent were to show a branch of an oak as reminder of the former pfennig. On the coins from 10 to 50 cents the Brandenburg Gate had to be seen, which was regarded as a symbol for the reunion of the German state. The 1 and 2 euro coins, finally, had to bear an eagle as the traditional emblem of Germany.