New national side of euro coins intended for circulation
(2021/C 466/04)
National side of the new commemorative 2-euro coin intended for circulation and issued by Belgium
Euro coins intended for circulation have legal tender status throughout the euro area. For informing the public and all parties who handle the coins, the Commission publishes a description of the designs of all new coins (1). In accordance with the Council conclusions of 10 February 2009 (2), euro-area Member States and countries that have concluded a monetary agreement with the European Union providing for the issuance of euro coins are authorised to issue commemorative euro coins intended for circulation, provided that certain conditions are met, one of these being that only the 2-euro denomination is used. These coins have the same technical characteristics as other 2-euro coins, but their national face features a commemorative design that is highly symbolic in national or European terms.
Issuing country: Belgium
Subject of commemoration: The 500th anniversary of the appearance of the ordinance of the second period of coin issuance during the reign of Charles V
Description of the design: The most famous coin is the Golden Carolus Guilder. Charles V’s pursuit of uniformity and centralization was also expressed in this series of coins. Almost 500 years after Charles V introduced his silver Carolus guilder, he was depicted on some ECU coins. The ECU, standing for European Currency Unit, was the forerunner of the euro.
The national side of the coin depicts in the inner part of the piece the portrait of the Charles V, together with the text Carolus V. At the left you can find the 500 year old golden Carolus guilder, issued after the ordinance of the second period of coin issuance during the reign of Charles V. As the Royal Dutch Mint will strike the coins, the mintmark of Utrecht, a mercury staff is located on the bottom together with the Belgian mint director mintmark, the coat of arms of the municipality Herzele. It also contains the initials LL, referring to the designer of the coin, Mr. Luc Luycx. The country code BE and the year mark 2021 are located on the left. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.
Number of coins to be issued: 155 000 coins
Date of issue: Autumn 2021
(1) See OJ C 373, 28.12.2001, p. 1 for the national faces of all the coins issued in 2002.
(2) See the conclusions of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council of 10 February 2009 and the Commission Recommendation of 19 December 2008 on common guidelines for the national sides and the issuance of euro coins intended for circulation (OJ L 9, 14.1.2009, p. 52).