The 1 and 2 cent coins remain. At least for now, and for a very simple reason: because it is not up to a single country, in this case Italy, to decide the fate of a European currency. Furthermore, suspending the minting of those coins does not produce any savings, unlike what was initially calculated, i.e. a saving of 23 million euros. While recognizing the absolute convenience for consumers, without the smaller denomination coins the Mint would be forced to increase the production (and the relative cost) of the five-cent coins.
And then, not secondly, while ceasing to mint the two coins, no shopkeeper would in any case be authorized to refuse them. The European Central Bank wrote it clearly in two opinions sent to Belgium and Finland which had already approved rules similar to the Italian one. And not only for the logical reason that a Spaniard or a German cannot be prevented from using those coins in Italy, but because the power to decide or not the legal circulation of pieces of the single currency does not belong to the national parliaments, but of the European Council.
