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Euro gold and silver commemorative coins (Belgium)
Encyclopedia
Euro gold and silver commemorative coins are special euro coins
minted
and issued by member states of the Eurozone
, mainly in gold
and silver
, although other precious metal
s are also used in rare occasions. Belgium
was one of the first twelve countries in the Eurozone that introduced the euro (€)
on 1 January 2002. Since then, the Belgian Royal Mint have been minting both normal issues of Belgian euro coins
, which are intended for circulation, and commemorative euro coins in gold and silver.
These special coins are only legal tender
in Belgium, unlike the normal issues of the Belgian euro coins, which are legal tender in every country of the Eurozone. This means that the commemorative coins made of gold and silver cannot be used as money in other countries. Furthermore, as their bullion value generally vastly exceeds their face value, these coins are not intended to be used as means of payment at all—although it remains possible. For this reason, they are usually named Collectors' coins.
The coins usually commemorate
the anniversaries
of historical events
or draw attention to current events of special importance. Belgium mints five of these coins on average per year, in both gold and silver, with face value ranging from 10 to 100 euros. All the coins were designed by Luc Luycx
.
, which are coins designated for circulation and do have legal tender status in all countries of the Eurozone.
The following table shows the number of coins minted per year. In the first section, the coins are grouped by the metal used, while in the second section they are grouped by their face value.
Euro coins
There are eight euro coin denominations, ranging from one cent to two euros . The coins first came into use in 2002. They have a common reverse, portraying a map of Europe, but each country in the eurozone has its own design on the obverse, which means that each coin has a variety of different...
minted
Mint (coin)
A mint is an industrial facility which manufactures coins for currency.The history of mints correlates closely with the history of coins. One difference is that the history of the mint is usually closely tied to the political situation of an era...
and issued by member states of the Eurozone
Eurozone
The eurozone , officially called the euro area, is an economic and monetary union of seventeen European Union member states that have adopted the euro as their common currency and sole legal tender...
, mainly in gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
and silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
, although other precious metal
Precious metal
A precious metal is a rare, naturally occurring metallic chemical element of high economic value.Chemically, the precious metals are less reactive than most elements, have high lustre, are softer or more ductile, and have higher melting points than other metals...
s are also used in rare occasions. Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
was one of the first twelve countries in the Eurozone that introduced the euro (€)
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
on 1 January 2002. Since then, the Belgian Royal Mint have been minting both normal issues of Belgian euro coins
Belgian euro coins
Belgian euro coins feature only a single design for all eight coins: the portrait or effigy of King Albert II of the Belgians and his royal monogram...
, which are intended for circulation, and commemorative euro coins in gold and silver.
These special coins are only legal tender
Legal tender
Legal tender is a medium of payment allowed by law or recognized by a legal system to be valid for meeting a financial obligation. Paper currency is a common form of legal tender in many countries....
in Belgium, unlike the normal issues of the Belgian euro coins, which are legal tender in every country of the Eurozone. This means that the commemorative coins made of gold and silver cannot be used as money in other countries. Furthermore, as their bullion value generally vastly exceeds their face value, these coins are not intended to be used as means of payment at all—although it remains possible. For this reason, they are usually named Collectors' coins.
The coins usually commemorate
Commemorative coin
Commemorative coins are coins that were issued to commemorate some particular event or issue. Most world commemorative coins were issued from the 1960s onward, although there are numerous examples of commemorative coins of earlier date. Such coins have a distinct design with reference to the...
the anniversaries
Anniversary
An anniversary is a day that commemorates or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same day of the year as the initial event. For example, the first event is the initial occurrence or, if planned, the inaugural of the event. One year later would be the first anniversary of that event...
of historical events
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
or draw attention to current events of special importance. Belgium mints five of these coins on average per year, in both gold and silver, with face value ranging from 10 to 100 euros. All the coins were designed by Luc Luycx
Luc Luycx
Luc Luycx is the designer of the common side of the euro coins.Luycx is a computer engineer living in Dendermonde, Belgium and has worked for the Royal Belgian Mint for 15 years. He designed the euro coins in 1996.His signature on all euro coins is visible as two L letters connected together...
.
Summary
As of 3 July 2008, 27 variations of Belgian commemorative coins have been minted: two in 2002, two in 2003, four in 2004, four in 2005, six in 2006, six in 2007, seven in 2008 and two in 2009 so far. These special high-value commemorative coins are not to be confused with €2 commemorative coins€2 commemorative coins
€2 commemorative coins are special euro coins minted and issued by member states of the eurozone since 2004 as legal tender in all eurozone member states. The coins typically commemorate the anniversaries of historical events or draw attention to current events of special importance...
, which are coins designated for circulation and do have legal tender status in all countries of the Eurozone.
The following table shows the number of coins minted per year. In the first section, the coins are grouped by the metal used, while in the second section they are grouped by their face value.
| Year | Issues | By metal | By face value | ||||||||||
| gold | silver | Others | €100 | €50 | €25 | €20 | €12.5 | €10 | €5 | ||||
| 2002 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 2003 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 2004 | 4 | ||||||||||||
| 2005 | 4 | ||||||||||||
| 2006 | 6 | ||||||||||||
| 2007 | 6 | ||||||||||||
| 2008 | 7 | ||||||||||||
| 2009 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Total | 33 | 15 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 2 | ||
| > | |||||||||||||
2002 coinage
| 50th Anniversary of the North-South connection | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (silver) | Quantity: 50,000 | Quality: proof Proof coinage Proof coinage means special early samples of a coin issue, historically made for checking the dies and for archival purposes, but nowadays often struck in greater numbers specially for coin collectors . Many countries now issue them.... |
|
| Issued: 16 October 2002 | Diameter: 33 mm (1.3 in) | Weight: 18.75 g (0.661386789470849 oz; 0.60282649428551 ozt) | ||
| The euro Euro The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,... was introduced in the Eurozone Eurozone The eurozone , officially called the euro area, is an economic and monetary union of seventeen European Union member states that have adopted the euro as their common currency and sole legal tender... on 1 January 2002. As a result, Belgium started to mint collectors' coins in late 2002. This coin was their first euro commemorative coin Commemorative coin Commemorative coins are coins that were issued to commemorate some particular event or issue. Most world commemorative coins were issued from the 1960s onward, although there are numerous examples of commemorative coins of earlier date. Such coins have a distinct design with reference to the... released. The obverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... (front side) shows a train coming out of one of the tunnels in the North-South connection in Brussels Brussels Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union... . It has written on the coin the words Noord-Zuidverbinding Jonction Nord-Midi (North-South connection in Dutch and French, respectively) and the years 1952 (representing the opening of the connection) and 2002. The reverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... (back side) shows the effigy Effigy An effigy is a representation of a person, especially in the form of sculpture or some other three-dimensional form.The term is usually associated with full-length figures of a deceased person depicted in stone or wood on church monuments. These most often lie supine with hands together in prayer,... of King Albert II Albert II of Belgium Albert II is the current reigning King of the Belgians, a constitutional monarch. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named Saxe-Coburg-Gotha... , facing to the left surrounded by stars representing the European Union European Union The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958... . "Belgium" in the three official languages Languages of Belgium The Kingdom of Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French, and German. A number of non-official, minority languages and dialects are spoken as well.-Dutch:... is displayed as well as the nominal value of 10 euro. |
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| Homage to 3 pioneers of the European unification | ||||
| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €100 | Alloy: Au 999 (gold) | Quantity: 5,000 | Quality: proof | |
| Issued: 2002 | Diameter: 29 mm (1.14 in) | Weight: 15.55 g (0.548510110734491 oz; 0.49994410592745 ozt) | ||
| After the introduction of the euro in 2002, this was the first commemorative euro coin released in gold Gold Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a... . The obverse shows a portrait with the names of three pioneers of European unification: Robert Schuman Robert Schuman Robert Schuman was a noted Luxembourgish-born French statesman. Schuman was a Christian Democrat and an independent political thinker and activist... , Paul-Henri Spaak Paul-Henri Spaak Paul Henri Charles Spaak was a Belgian Socialist politician and statesman.-Early life:Paul-Henri Spaak was born on 25 January 1899 in Schaerbeek, Belgium, to a distinguished Belgian family. His grandfather, Paul Janson was an important member of the Liberal Party... and Konrad Adenauer Konrad Adenauer Konrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer was a German statesman. He was the chancellor of the West Germany from 1949 to 1963. He is widely recognised as a person who led his country from the ruins of World War II to a powerful and prosperous nation that had forged close relations with old enemies France,... . The reverse shows a map of the European Union as of 2002. "Belgium" in the three official languages is displayed as well as the nominal value of 100 euro. |
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2003 coinage
| 100th Anniversary of Georges Simenon | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (silver) | Quantity: 50,000 | Quality: proof | |
| Issued: 2003 | Diameter: 33 mm (1.3 in) | Weight: 18.75 g (0.661386789470849 oz; 0.60282649428551 ozt) | ||
| Although his well-known protagonist, Detective Inspector Maigret, was Paris Paris Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region... ian, Georges Simenon Georges Simenon Georges Joseph Christian Simenon was a Belgian writer. A prolific author who published nearly 200 novels and numerous short works, Simenon is best known for the creation of the fictional detective Maigret.-Early life and education:... was one of most famous Belgian writers of the 20th century. With more than 200 novels, most of them translated into several dozen languages and more than fifty adapted for television and the large screen, he has left a large collection of masterpieces behind. Two of them, My Friend Maigret (1949) and Maigret in Court (1960) were named in 1987 as two of the hundred best crime novels. For his work particularly on police novels, Belgium has chosen to honor the centennial of his birth (13 February 1903) with a 10-euro sterling silver commemorative coin. The obverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... front side shows his portrait. The reverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... shows a map of the European Union as of 2003. "Belgium" in the three official languages is displayed as well as the nominal value of 10 euro, surrounded by the 12 stars of the union. |
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| 200th Anniversary of the Germinal Franc | ||||
| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €100 | Alloy: Au 999 (gold) | Quantity: 5,000 | Quality: proof | |
| Issued: 2003 | Diameter: 29 mm (1.14 in) | Weight: 15.55 g (0.548510110734491 oz; 0.49994410592745 ozt) | ||
| The obverse of the coin shows the two faces of the "Germinal Franc", a currency established in 1803. Some historians consider that, since it references to both gold and silver, this currency indicates the creation of the bi-metallic system. The reverse shows the effigy of King Albert II Albert II of Belgium Albert II is the current reigning King of the Belgians, a constitutional monarch. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named Saxe-Coburg-Gotha... . To the left of the coin, the royal mint mark is depicted. "Belgium" in the three official languages is displayed in the middle as well as the nominal value of 100 euro. |
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2004 coinage
| 75th Anniversary of Kuifje (Tintin) The Adventures of Tintin The Adventures of Tintin is a series of classic comic books created by Belgian artist , who wrote under the pen name of Hergé... |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (silver) | Quantity: 50,000 | Quality: proof | |
| Issued: 2004 | Diameter: 33 mm (1.3 in) | Weight: 18.75 g (0.661386789470849 oz; 0.60282649428551 ozt) | ||
| The coin celebrates the 75th anniversary of the famous Belgian cartoon Tintin Tintin Tintin, Tin-Tin or Tin Tin may refer to:* The Adventures of Tintin , the series of classic comic books created by Belgian artist Hergé... , also known as Kuifje. The minting of this coin received a lot of attention worldwide; even the Belgian Finance Minister Didier Reynders Didier Reynders Didier J.L. Reynders is a Belgian politician and a member of the Mouvement Réformateur . He is Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance and Institutional Reforms in the Van Rompuy I Government, which took office on 30 December 2008.He was born in Liège as the youngest in a family of... attended the minting ceremony. "It is important to celebrate Tintin and Hergé not only in Belgium, but all over the world", he said. A portrait of Tintin Tintin (character) Tintin is a fictional character in The Adventures of Tintin, the series of classic Belgian comic books written and illustrated by Hergé. Tintin is the protagonist of the series, a reporter and adventurer who travels around the world with his dog Snowy.... and his dog Snowy Snowy (character) Snowy is a fictional character in The Adventures of Tintin, the series of classic Belgian comic books written and illustrated by Hergé. He is a white Wire Fox Terrier and Tintin's four-legged companion who travels everywhere with him... can be seen on the obverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... of the coin. The reverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... shows a map of the European Union European Union The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958... as of 2004. "Belgium" in the three official languages is displayed as well as the nominal value of 10 euro, surrounded by the 12 stars of the union. |
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| Fifth Enlargement of the European Union | ||||
| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (silver) | Quantity: 50,000 | Quality: proof | |
| Issued: 2004 | Diameter: 33 mm (1.3 in) | Weight: 18.75 g (0.661386789470849 oz; 0.60282649428551 ozt) | ||
| The female character Europa Europa (mythology) In Greek mythology Europa was a Phoenician woman of high lineage, from whom the name of the continent Europe has ultimately been taken. The name Europa occurs in Hesiod's long list of daughters of primordial Oceanus and Tethys... , abducted by Zeus, watching the continent from the skies, is shown on the obverse of the coin. The continent Europe Europe Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting... has ultimately been named after this female character. In the eighth century, ecclesiastical uses of Europa for the imperium of Charlemagne Charlemagne Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800... provide the source for the modern geographical term. The name of Europe as a geographical term came in use by Ancient Greek Ancient Greece Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the... geographers such as Strabo Strabo Strabo, also written Strabon was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.-Life:Strabo was born to an affluent family from Amaseia in Pontus , a city which he said was situated the approximate equivalent of 75 km from the Black Sea... . It is derived from the Greek Greek language Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;... word Europa (Ευρώπη) in almost all European languages. Europa has been used frequently as a symbol of Europe; statues of her and the bull, are placed outside several European Union institutions. On the reverse of the coin, "Belgium" in the three official languages is displayed as well as the nominal value of 10 euro, surrounded by the 12 stars of the union. |
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| 70th Birthday of King Albert II Albert II of Belgium Albert II is the current reigning King of the Belgians, a constitutional monarch. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named Saxe-Coburg-Gotha... |
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| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €50 | Alloy: Au 999 (gold) | Quantity: 10,000 | Quality: proof | |
| Issued: 2004 | Diameter: 21 mm (0.826771653543307 in) | Weight: 6.22 g (0.219404044293796 oz; 0.19997764237098 ozt) | ||
| The obverse shows the effigy Effigy An effigy is a representation of a person, especially in the form of sculpture or some other three-dimensional form.The term is usually associated with full-length figures of a deceased person depicted in stone or wood on church monuments. These most often lie supine with hands together in prayer,... of King Albert II. To the left of the coin, the royal mint mark is depicted with the number 70, representing his 70th birthday. The reverse shows, for the first time, the map of the whole of Europe as a representation of the European Union Expansion that took place in 2004. "Belgium" in the three official languages is displayed as well as the nominal value of 50 euro, surrounded by the 12 stars of the union. |
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| The Fifth European Union Expansion | ||||
| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €100 | Alloy: Au 999 (gold) | Quantity: 5,000 | Quality: proof | |
| Issued: 2004 | Diameter: 29 mm (1.14 in) | Weight: 15.55 g (0.548510110734491 oz; 0.49994410592745 ozt) | ||
| On 1 May 2004, eight of the old communist countries Communist state A communist state is a state with a form of government characterized by single-party rule or dominant-party rule of a communist party and a professed allegiance to a Leninist or Marxist-Leninist communist ideology as the guiding principle of the state... (Czech Republic Czech Republic The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest.... , Estonia Estonia Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies... , Hungary Hungary Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The... , Latvia Latvia Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden... , Lithuania Lithuania Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark... , Poland Poland Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north... , Slovakia Slovakia The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south... , and Slovenia Slovenia Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of... ), plus the Mediterranean islands of Malta Malta Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in... and Cyprus Cyprus Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the... , joined the union. This was the largest single enlargement in terms of people and landmass, although the smallest in terms of GDP Gross domestic product Gross domestic product refers to the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period. GDP per capita is often considered an indicator of a country's standard of living.... . To commemorate this remarkable event, the Belgian mint minted this gold commemorative coin. The obverse shows ten famous landmarks, each of them located in one of the ten new members of the European Union, surrounding the euro symbol with the 12 stars of the union. The reverse shows the new map of the union, with the new members added. The names of these new members are also shown to the right of the map. |
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2005 coinage
| 100th Anniversary of Derby of the Low Countries Low Countries The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany.... . 75th Anniversary of Heizel Stadium. |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (silver) & Cu 75 (Copper) | Quantity: 50,000 | Quality: proof | |
| Issued: 2005 | Diameter: 33 mm (1.3 in) | Weight: 18.75 g (0.661386789470849 oz; 0.60282649428551 ozt) | ||
| The obverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... depicts an image of a footballer with the Heizel Stadium King Baudouin Stadium The King Baudouin Stadium is a sports ground in north-west Brussels, Belgium. It was inaugurated on 23 August 1930 as the Stade du Jubilé or Jubelstadion in the presence of Prince Leopold. It was built to embellish the Heysel plateau in view of the Brussels International Exposition... in the background. The flags of Belgium and the Netherlands can be seen on top of the stadium. The stadium, also known as King Baudouin Stadium (French: Stade Roi Baudouin, Dutch: Koning Boudewijnstadion), is a sports ground in north-west Brussels Brussels Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union... . It was inaugurated on 23 August 1930 (days after Belgium's 100th anniversary) as the Stade du Jubilé or Jubelstadion ("Jubilee Stadium") in the presence of Prince Leopold III Leopold III of Belgium Leopold III reigned as King of the Belgians from 1934 until 1951, when he abdicated in favour of the Heir Apparent,... . It was built to embellish the Heysel plateau in view of the 1935 World's Fair World's Fair World's fair, World fair, Universal Exposition, and World Expo are various large public exhibitions held in different parts of the world. The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom, in 1851, under the title "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All... . The stadium hosted 70,000 people at the time. This coin was minted to celebrate the 75th anniversary of this event. The reverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... of the coin shows a map of the European Union as of 2005, including the recently joined ten new members. "Belgium" in the three official languages is displayed as well as the nominal value of 10 euro, surrounded by the 12 stars of the union. |
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| 60 years of peace and freedom in Europe | ||||
| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (silver) & Cu 75 (Copper) | Quantity: 50,000 | Quality: proof | |
| Issued: 2005 | Diameter: 33 mm (1.3 in) | Weight: 18.75 g (0.661386789470849 oz; 0.60282649428551 ozt) | ||
| The obverse features an stylised version of the Phoenix Phoenix (mythology) The phoenix or phenix is a mythical sacred firebird that can be found in the mythologies of the Arabian, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, Indian and Phoenicians.... rising from the ashes, as a representation of a new Europe post 1945, celebrating 60 years of peace and freedom in the continent. The reverse shows a map of Europe. "Belgium" in the three official languages is displayed as well as the nominal value of 10 euro, surrounded by the 12 stars of the European Union. |
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| 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 FIFA World Cup The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six... |
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| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €20 | Alloy: Ag 925 (silver) & Cu 75 (Copper) | Quantity: 25,000 | Quality: proof | |
| Issued: 2005 | Diameter: 37 mm (1.46 in) | Weight: 22.85 g (0.806010034101808 oz; 0.734644554369275 ozt) | ||
| In the obverse, an effigy Effigy An effigy is a representation of a person, especially in the form of sculpture or some other three-dimensional form.The term is usually associated with full-length figures of a deceased person depicted in stone or wood on church monuments. These most often lie supine with hands together in prayer,... of a soccer player commemorating the games is depicted. The reverse shows the effigy of King Albert II Albert II of Belgium Albert II is the current reigning King of the Belgians, a constitutional monarch. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named Saxe-Coburg-Gotha... , facing to the left surrounded by the 12 stars of the union. "Belgium" in the three official languages is displayed as well as the nominal value of 20 euro. |
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| 175th Anniversary of Belgium Independence | ||||
| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €100 | Alloy: Au 999 (gold) | Quantity: 5,000 | Quality: proof | |
| Issued: 2005 | Diameter: 29 mm (1.14 in) | Weight: 15.55 g (0.548510110734491 oz; 0.49994410592745 ozt) | ||
| The Belgian Revolution Belgian Revolution The Belgian Revolution was the conflict which led to the secession of the Southern provinces from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and established an independent Kingdom of Belgium.... was a conflict in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands United Kingdom of the Netherlands United Kingdom of the Netherlands is the unofficial name used to refer to Kingdom of the Netherlands during the period after it was first created from part of the First French Empire and before the new kingdom of Belgium split out in 1830... that began with a riot in Brussels Brussels Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union... in August 1830 and eventually led to the establishment of an independent, Roman Catholic and neutral Belgium (William I William I of the Netherlands William I Frederick, born Willem Frederik Prins van Oranje-Nassau , was a Prince of Orange and the first King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg.... , king of the Netherlands, would refuse to recognize a Belgian state until 1839, when he had to yield under pressure by the Treaty of London Treaty of London, 1839 The Treaty of London, also called the First Treaty of London or the Convention of 1839, was a treaty signed on 19 April 1839 between the European great powers, the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Kingdom of Belgium. It was the direct follow-up of the 1831 'Treaty of the XXIV Articles'... ). This coin commemorates the 175th anniversary of this event. The obverse depicts the famous painting "Scene of the September days in 1830", a representation of the Belgian Revolution Belgian Revolution The Belgian Revolution was the conflict which led to the secession of the Southern provinces from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and established an independent Kingdom of Belgium.... . On the reverse there is an effigy of King Albert II, facing to the left surrounded by the 12 stars of the European union. "Belgium" in the three official languages is displayed as well as the nominal value of 100 euro. |
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2006 coinage
| Justus Lipsius Justus Lipsius Justus Lipsius was a Southern-Netherlandish philologist and humanist. Lipsius wrote a series of works designed to revive ancient Stoicism in a form that would be compatible with Christianity. The most famous of these is De Constantia... |
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| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (silver) & Cu 75 (Copper) | Quantity: 50,000 | Quality: proof | |
| Issued: 2006 | Diameter: 33 mm (1.3 in) | Weight: 18.75 g (0.661386789470849 oz; 0.60282649428551 ozt) | ||
| Justus Lipsius | ||||
| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €50 | Alloy: Au 999 (gold) | Quantity: 2,500 | Quality: proof | |
| Issued: 2006 | Diameter: 21 mm (0.826771653543307 in) | Weight: 6.22 g (0.219404044293796 oz; 0.19997764237098 ozt) | ||
| The 400th anniversary of the death of Belgian philosopher Justus Lipsius Justus Lipsius Justus Lipsius was a Southern-Netherlandish philologist and humanist. Lipsius wrote a series of works designed to revive ancient Stoicism in a form that would be compatible with Christianity. The most famous of these is De Constantia... is the theme of Belgium's contribution to the 2006 Europa coin program Europa Coins 2006 For 2006, at least 13 European countries have joined together to create the Silver Series for Europe. The theme for 2006 is distinguished European figures. The following are the countries that issue a Europa Coin in 2006:-External links:*... of famous European personalities. Born in 1547, Lipsius came to be known for his writings on stoicism. The most famous of these was entitled De Constantia ("On Constancy"), and in it he spoke of the merits of a Stoic-inspired ideal of constancy whenever people were faced with unpleasant events or circumstances. His teachings led to a philosophical movement known today as "Neostoicism Neostoicism Neostoicism was a syncretic philosophical movement, joining Stoicism and Christianity.-Lipsius:Neostoicism was founded by Flemish humanist Justus Lipsius, who in 1584 presented its rules, expounded in his book De constantia , as a dialogue between Lipsius and his friend Charles de Langhe... ". Lipsius died in 1606. The obverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... of the coin features an image of Lipsius, surrounded by the inscription of his name and the dates 1547–1606. The reverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... shows a map of Europe as one continent. "Belgium" in the three official languages is displayed as well as the nominal value of 10 euro, surrounded by the 12 stars of the European Union. The same coin was also minted in pure gold, with a face value of 50 euros. |
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| 50th anniversary of the catastrophe Bois du Cazier at Marcinelle | ||||
| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (silver) | Quantity: 50,000 | Quality: proof | |
| Issued: 2006 | Diameter: 33 mm (1.3 in) | Weight: 18.75 g (0.661386789470849 oz; 0.60282649428551 ozt) | ||
| 50th anniversary of the catastrophe Bois du Cazier at Marcinelle | ||||
| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (silver) & Cu 75 (Copper) | Quantity: 2,000 | Quality: proof | |
| Issued: 2006 | Diameter: 33 mm (1.3 in) | Weight: 18.75 g (0.661386789470849 oz; 0.60282649428551 ozt) | ||
| This coin was minted as a tribute to an accident that occurred in the mines of Bois du Cazier at Marcinelle Marcinelle Marcinelle is a Walloon town in the Belgian province of Hainaut, it is currently a municipality within the Charleroi borders. Until 1977, the town was a municipality of its own.... . On the morning of 8 August 1956, a fire in the mines of Marcinelle caused 262 victims. At the time of the incident, 274 people were working in the colliery Bois du Cazier, also known as Puits Saint-Charles. A wrongly placed mining wagon on the elevator cage hit an oil pipe and indirectly the electricity lines when the elevator started moving. This caused a fire, which trapped the miners working in the galleries. Only 12 people survived. The obverse shows a portrait of a miner, with the mine Bois du Cazier in the background. In one version of the coin, the portrait of the miner is minted in copper, which gives a unique character to this coin. |
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| 175 years of Belgian Dynasty | ||||
| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €100 | Alloy: Au 999 (gold) | Quantity: 5,000 | Quality: proof | |
| Issued: 2006 | Diameter: 29 mm (1.14 in) | Weight: 15.55 g (0.548510110734491 oz; 0.49994410592745 ozt) | ||
| The obverse shows the monument dedicated to Leopold I Leopold I of Belgium Leopold I was from 21 July 1831 the first King of the Belgians, following Belgium's independence from the Netherlands. He was the founder of the Belgian line of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha... . Built in 1881, it celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Belgian Dynasty. Six royal monograms cam be seen around the monument. The reverse shows the map of the European Union, including the new members that joined in 2004. |
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| 175 years of Belgian Dynasty | ||||
| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €12.50 | Alloy: Au 999 (gold) | Quantity: 15,000 | Quality: proof | |
| Issued: 2006 | Diameter: 14 mm (0.551181102362205 in) | Weight: 1.25 g (0.04409245263139 oz; 0.0401884329523673 ozt) | ||
| This was the first 12.50-euro coin ever minted by Belgium. The obverse of the coin shows a portrait of Leopold I Leopold I of Belgium Leopold I was from 21 July 1831 the first King of the Belgians, following Belgium's independence from the Netherlands. He was the founder of the Belgian line of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha... , the father of the Belgian dynasty Monarchy of Belgium Monarchy in Belgium is constitutional and popular in nature. The hereditary monarch, at present Albert II, is the head of state and is officially called King of the Belgians .-Origins:... . On the reverse, a seated lion can be observed. The design of this lion is an original resemblance of a very old coin: the 2 centimes made of copper, minted from 1835 to 1865, one of the very first coins minted by the Belgian dynasty. Under the lion, the words "Belgium" in the three official languages and the face value of 12.50 euro can be seen. |
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2007 coinage
| Treaty of Rome Treaty of Rome The Treaty of Rome, officially the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, was an international agreement that led to the founding of the European Economic Community on 1 January 1958. It was signed on 25 March 1957 by Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany... |
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| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (silver) & Cu 75 (Copper) | Quantity: 40,000 | Quality: proof | |
| Issued: 2007 | Diameter: 33 mm (1.3 in) | Weight: 18.75 g (0.661386789470849 oz; 0.60282649428551 ozt) | ||
| The obverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... shows a goose feather on top of a document, symbolizing the signature of the Treaty of Rome Treaty of Rome The Treaty of Rome, officially the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, was an international agreement that led to the founding of the European Economic Community on 1 January 1958. It was signed on 25 March 1957 by Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany... in 1957, the very first step of the union. Six lines can be seen coming out of the pen, each of them representing one of the original members. The reverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... shows a map of the countries of the European Union. For the first time, it includes the countries of the new members Bulgaria Bulgaria Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east... and Romania Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea... . |
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| International Polar Foundation | ||||
| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (silver) & Cu 75 (Copper) | Quantity: 50,000 | Quality: proof | |
| Issued: 2007 | Diameter: 33 mm (1.3 in) | Weight: 18.75 g (0.661386789470849 oz; 0.60282649428551 ozt) | ||
| This coin was issued to commemorate the 4th International Polar Year and the establishment of a new Belgian scientific base on Antarctica. On the obverse, a view of the polar station with its three wind turbines can be seen, as well as some of the polar ice mountains in the background. The reverse shows the map of the European Union as of 2007. The word "Belgium" is written in the three official languages, with the face value of 10 euro. In the bottom of the coin, the name of the foundation "Princess Elizabeth Antarctica" is written. |
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| 100th Anniversary of Hergé's birth | ||||
| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €20 | Alloy: Ag 925 (silver) & Cu 75 (Copper) | Quantity: 50,000 | Quality: proof | |
| Issued: 2007 | Diameter: 37 mm (1.46 in) | Weight: 22.85 g (0.806010034101808 oz; 0.734644554369275 ozt) | ||
| In the obverse, a self portrait of Hergé Hergé Georges Prosper Remi , better known by the pen name Hergé, was a Belgian comics writer and artist. His best known and most substantial work is the 23 completed comic books in The Adventures of Tintin series, which he wrote and illustrated from 1929 until his death in 1983, although he was also... can be seen to the left. Hergé was one of the most famous Belgian comics writer and artist. To the right of the portrait, there is a portrait of his masterpiece Kuifje (Tintin). In the bottom of the coin, Hergé's signature is depicted. The reverse shows the map of the European Union as of 2007. The word "Belgium" is written in the three official languages, with the face value of 20 euro. |
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| Leopold II Leopold II of Belgium Leopold II was the second king of the Belgians. Born in Brussels the second son of Leopold I and Louise-Marie of Orléans, he succeeded his father to the throne on 17 December 1865 and remained king until his death.Leopold is chiefly remembered as the founder and sole owner of the Congo Free... |
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| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €12.50 | Alloy: Au 999 (gold) | Quantity: 15,000 | Quality: proof | |
| Issued: 2007 | Diameter: 14 mm (0.551181102362205 in) | Weight: 1.25 g (0.04409245263139 oz; 0.0401884329523673 ozt) | ||
| This coin was also issued commemorating the 175th anniversary of the Belgian royal dynasty Monarchy of Belgium Monarchy in Belgium is constitutional and popular in nature. The hereditary monarch, at present Albert II, is the head of state and is officially called King of the Belgians .-Origins:... . On the obverse is the effigy Effigy An effigy is a representation of a person, especially in the form of sculpture or some other three-dimensional form.The term is usually associated with full-length figures of a deceased person depicted in stone or wood on church monuments. These most often lie supine with hands together in prayer,... of King Leopold II Leopold II of Belgium Leopold II was the second king of the Belgians. Born in Brussels the second son of Leopold I and Louise-Marie of Orléans, he succeeded his father to the throne on 17 December 1865 and remained king until his death.Leopold is chiefly remembered as the founder and sole owner of the Congo Free... , the second King of the Belgians, and the inscription LEOPOLDVS II and the date 2007. On the reverse, a seated lion can be observed under the words "Belgium" in the three official languages, on top of the face value of 12.50 euro. |
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| Treaty of Rome Treaty of Rome The Treaty of Rome, officially the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, was an international agreement that led to the founding of the European Economic Community on 1 January 1958. It was signed on 25 March 1957 by Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany... |
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| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €50 | Alloy: Au 999 (gold) | Quantity: 2,500 | Quality: proof | |
| Issued: 2007 | Diameter: 21 mm (0.826771653543307 in) | Weight: 6.22 g (0.219404044293796 oz; 0.19997764237098 ozt) | ||
| Similarly to the 10-euro "Treaty of Rome" coin, the obverse shows a goose feather on top of a document, symbolizing the signature of the Treaty of Rome Treaty of Rome The Treaty of Rome, officially the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, was an international agreement that led to the founding of the European Economic Community on 1 January 1958. It was signed on 25 March 1957 by Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany... in 1957, the very first step of the union. Six lines can be seen coming out of the pen, each of them representing one of the original members. The reverse shows the map of the European Union as of 2007. The word "Belgium" is written in the three official languages, with the face value of 50 euro. |
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| 175th Anniversary of Belgian coins | ||||
| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €100 | Alloy: Au 999 (gold) | Quantity: 5,000 | Quality: proof | |
| Issued: 2007 | Diameter: 29 mm (1.14 in) | Weight: 15.55 g (0.548510110734491 oz; 0.49994410592745 ozt) | ||
| The obverse shows a very old coin die, used to mint the first Belgian coins. Around it there are six representations of the most common pre-euro Belgian coins. The reverse shows the map of the European Union as of 2007. The word "Belgium" is written in the three official languages, with the face value of 100 euro. |
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2008 coinage
| Maurice Maeterlinck Maurice Maeterlinck Maurice Polydore Marie Bernard Maeterlinck, also called Comte Maeterlinck from 1932, was a Belgian playwright, poet, and essayist who wrote in French. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1911. The main themes in his work are death and the meaning of life... |
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| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (silver) | Quantity: 20,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2008 | Diameter: 33 mm (1.3 in) | Weight: 18.75 g (0.661386789470849 oz; 0.60282649428551 ozt) | ||
| Maurice Maeterlinck | ||||
| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €50 | Alloy: Au 999 (gold) | Quantity: 2,500 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2008 | Diameter: 21 mm (0.826771653543307 in) | Weight: 6.22 g (0.219404044293796 oz; 0.19997764237098 ozt) | ||
| This coin was issued to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Maurice Maeterlinck Maurice Maeterlinck Maurice Polydore Marie Bernard Maeterlinck, also called Comte Maeterlinck from 1932, was a Belgian playwright, poet, and essayist who wrote in French. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1911. The main themes in his work are death and the meaning of life... 's greatest contemporary success: L'Oiseau Bleu, written in 1908. Maurice was a Belgian poet, playwright, and essayist writing in French. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature Nobel Prize in Literature Since 1901, the Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded annually to an author from any country who has, in the words from the will of Alfred Nobel, produced "in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction"... in 1911. The play premiered on 30 September 1908 at Constantin Stanislavski's Moscow Art Theatre and has been turned into several films and a TV series. The story is about a girl called Mytyl and her brother Tyltyl seeking happiness, represented by The Blue Bird of Happiness, aided by the good fairy Berylune. This coin features on its obverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... the image of the blue bird spreading its wings and leaving the confines of its cage for freedom. The unusual aspect of this coin is that the bird itself is actually colored in blue (as in the name of the play). Above the bird are the years signifying the 100th anniversary of the Blue Bird play, 1908–2008, and above that is the emblem for the Europa series Europa Coins The Europa Coin Programme, also known as the European Silver Programme, or the Eurostar Programme, is an initiative dedicated to the issuance of collector-oriented legal tender coins in precious metals to celebrate European identity. The issuing authorities of EU member countries voluntarily... . In a semicircle around the top rim of the coin is the name of Maurice Maeterlinck, while around the bottom are the words, in French and Dutch respectively, for The Blue Bird. The reverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... shows a clear view of all the countries of the Eurozone, surrounded by the word "Belgium" in the three official languages and the face value of 10 euro. The same coin was also minted in pure gold, with a face value of 50 euros. |
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| 2008 Olympic Games 2008 Summer Olympics The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events... |
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| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (silver) | Quantity: 20,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2008 | Diameter: 33 mm (1.3 in) | Weight: 18.75 g (0.661386789470849 oz; 0.60282649428551 ozt) | ||
| 2008 Olympic Games | ||||
| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €25 | Alloy: Au 999 (gold) | Quantity: 5,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2008 | Diameter: 18 mm (0.708661417322835 in) | Weight: 3.11 g (0.109702022146898 oz; 0.09998882118549 ozt) | ||
| On the occasion of the 2008 Summer Olympics 2008 Summer Olympics The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events... in Beijing, China, the Royal Mint of Belgium have issued a commemorative coin in silver. The reverse shows on the right side a nominal value of 10 euro and the year of issue (2008), and in the center a map of Europe with all 27 member states of the EU. The obverse carries on the right side a symbol of the Belgian Olympic Committee International Olympic Committee The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president... , in the center an analog of the Olympic flambeau, which will constantly burn during the Olympic Games Olympic Games The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate... , and on the left side symbols of four Olympic disciplines Olympic sports Olympic sports, as defined by the International Olympic Committee, are all the sports contested in the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. The Summer Olympics, as of 2012, will include 26 sports, with two additionall sports due to be added in 2016... : cycling Cycling at the Summer Olympics Cycling has been contested at every Summer Olympic Games since the birth of the modern Olympic movement at the 1896 Summer Olympics.-Track cycling, Men:-Track cycling, Women:-Road bicycle racing, Men:-Road bicycle racing, Women:... , hockey Field hockey at the Summer Olympics Field hockey was introduced at the Summer Olympic Games as a men's competition at the 1908 Games in London, with six teams, including four from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.... , athletics Athletics at the Summer Olympics Athletics has been contested at every Summer Olympics since the birth of the modern Olympic movement at the 1896 Summer Olympics. The athletics program traces its earliest roots to events used in the ancient Greek Olympics. The modern program now comprises track and field events, road running... and tennis Tennis at the Summer Olympics Tennis was part of the Summer Olympic Games program from the inaugural 1896 Summer Olympics, but was dropped after the 1924 Summer Olympics... . The same coin was also minted in pure gold, with a face value of 25 euros. A particularity of this gold coin is that for the first time since the introduction of the euro in coins in 2002, the Belgian Mint is minting a coin with a face value of 25 euro. |
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| The Smurfs The Smurfs The Smurfs is a comic and television franchise centred on a group of small blue fictional creatures called Smurfs, created and first introduced as a series of comic strips by the Belgian cartoonist Peyo on October 23, 1958... - 50th Anniversary |
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| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €5 | Alloy: Ag 925 (silver) | Quantity: 18,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2008 | Diameter: 30 mm (1.18 in) | Weight: 15 g (0.529109431576679 oz; 0.482261195428408 ozt) | ||
| The Smurfs - 50th Anniversary | ||||
| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €5 | Alloy: Ag 925 (silver) | Quantity: 7,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2008 | Diameter: 30 mm (1.18 in) | Weight: 15 g (0.529109431576679 oz; 0.482261195428408 ozt) | ||
| Fifty years after their first appearance in a Comics book, the Smurfs The Smurfs The Smurfs is a comic and television franchise centred on a group of small blue fictional creatures called Smurfs, created and first introduced as a series of comic strips by the Belgian cartoonist Peyo on October 23, 1958... are still to be reckoned among the most popular comics figures in the world. This issue celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Smurfs, and the 80th birthday of its inventor, Peyo Peyo Pierre Culliford , known as Peyo, was a Belgian comics artist, perhaps best known for the creation of The Smurfs comic strip.-Biography:... . The figure of a smurf can be seen in the obverse of the coin (plain silver in one issue, colored in the other). |
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| Albert I Albert I of Belgium Albert I reigned as King of the Belgians from 1909 until 1934.-Early life:Born Albert Léopold Clément Marie Meinrad in Brussels, he was the fifth child and second son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, and his wife, Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen... |
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| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €12.50 | Alloy: Au 999 (gold) | Quantity: 10,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2008 | Diameter: 14 mm (0.551181102362205 in) | Weight: 1.25 g (0.04409245263139 oz; 0.0401884329523673 ozt) | ||
| On the obverse is the effigy of Albert I Albert I of Belgium Albert I reigned as King of the Belgians from 1909 until 1934.-Early life:Born Albert Léopold Clément Marie Meinrad in Brussels, he was the fifth child and second son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, and his wife, Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen... , and the inscription ALBERTVS I with the date 2008. On the reverse, a seated lion can be observed under the words "Belgium" in the three official languages, on top of the face value of 12.50 euro. |
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| 50th Anniversary of the International Expo in Belgium | ||||
| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €100 | Alloy: Au 999 (gold) | Quantity: 3,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2008 | Diameter: 29 mm (1.14 in) | Weight: 15.5 g (0.546746412629235 oz; 0.498336568609355 ozt) | ||
| The International Expo in Belgium, also known as Expo 58 or Brussels World’s Fair, was held from 17 April to 19 October 1958. It was the first major World's Fair World's Fair World's fair, World fair, Universal Exposition, and World Expo are various large public exhibitions held in different parts of the world. The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom, in 1851, under the title "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All... after World War II World War II World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis... . The site is best known for a giant model of a unit cell of an iron crystal (each sphere representing an atom Atom The atom is a basic unit of matter that consists of a dense central nucleus surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons. The atomic nucleus contains a mix of positively charged protons and electrically neutral neutrons... ), called the Atomium Atomium The Atomium is a monument in Brussels, originally built for Expo '58, the 1958 Brussels World's Fair. Designed by André Waterkeyn, it stands 102 metres tall... , which decades later remains one of the best known landmarks of Brussels. More than 42 million visitors visited the site, which was opened with a call for world peace and social and economic progress, issued by King Baudouin I. This coin was issued to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this event; on the obverse of the coin the logo of the exposition is depicted. |
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2009 coinage
| 500th Anniversary of "The Praise of Folly The Praise of Folly In Praise of Folly is an essay written in 1509 by Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam and first printed in 1511... " by Erasmus |
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| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (silver) | Quantity: 15,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2009 | Diameter: 33 mm (1.3 in) | Weight: 18.75 g (0.661386789470849 oz; 0.60282649428551 ozt) | ||
| 500th Anniversary of "The Praise of Folly The Praise of Folly In Praise of Folly is an essay written in 1509 by Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam and first printed in 1511... " by Erasmus |
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| Designer: Luc Luycx | Mint: Royal Belgian Mint | |||
| Value: €50 | Alloy: Au 999 (gold) | Quantity: 3,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2009 | Diameter: 21 mm (0.826771653543307 in) | Weight: 6.22 g (0.219404044293796 oz; 0.19997764237098 ozt) | ||
| Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus Desiderius Erasmus Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus , known as Erasmus of Rotterdam, was a Dutch Renaissance humanist, Catholic priest, and a theologian.... (sometimes known as Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam) was a Dutch Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... Renaissance humanist and Catholic Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity... Christian Christian A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament... theologian Theology Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo... . Erasmus was a classical scholar who wrote in a "pure" Latin style and enjoyed the sobriquet Sobriquet A sobriquet is a nickname, sometimes assumed, but often given by another. It is usually a familiar name, distinct from a pseudonym assumed as a disguise, but a nickname which is familiar enough such that it can be used in place of a real name without the need of explanation... "Prince of the Humanists." One of his masterpieces is the essay The Praise of Folly The Praise of Folly In Praise of Folly is an essay written in 1509 by Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam and first printed in 1511... (Greek Greek language Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;... title: Morias Enkomion (Μωρίας Εγκώμιον), Latin Latin Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and... : Stultitiae Laus, sometimes translated as "In Praise of Folly", Dutch Dutch language Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second... title: Lof der Zotheid); written in 1509. Erasmus revised and extended the work while sojourning with Sir Thomas More Thomas More Sir Thomas More , also known by Catholics as Saint Thomas More, was an English lawyer, social philosopher, author, statesman and noted Renaissance humanist. He was an important councillor to Henry VIII of England and, for three years toward the end of his life, Lord Chancellor... . In Praise of Folly is considered one of the most influential works of literature in Western civilization and one of the catalysts of the Protestant Reformation Protestant Reformation The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led... . The 500th Anniversary of this essay is the main motif for the firsts two commemorative coins in 2009. On the obverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... of the coin, is an effigy Effigy An effigy is a representation of a person, especially in the form of sculpture or some other three-dimensional form.The term is usually associated with full-length figures of a deceased person depicted in stone or wood on church monuments. These most often lie supine with hands together in prayer,... of Erasmus. To his left are two samples of the most famous pen and ink illustrations from the 1515 edition. In the center of the coin, the years MDIX (1509 in roman numerals Roman numerals The numeral system of ancient Rome, or Roman numerals, uses combinations of letters from the Latin alphabet to signify values. The numbers 1 to 10 can be expressed in Roman numerals as:... ) and 2009 are clearly shown. The reverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... shows a view of all the countries of the Eurozone, surrounded by the word "Belgium" in its three official languages and the face value of 10 euro. |
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