BU Mint Set

Henri was born in 1955 as the eldest son of the then Hereditary Grand Duke Jean and the Belgian Princess Joséphine-Charlotte. After his father became head of state in 1964, Henri increasingly assumed public duties as heir to the throne. From 1998, he served as the “Lieutenant-Représentant”, acting as the Grand Duke’s deputy and exercising some of his constitutional powers. He assumed the throne when Jean voluntarily abdicated on 7 October 2000 after 36 years of rule.

Luxembourg is a parliamentary democracy in the form of a constitutional hereditary monarchy. The Grand Duke is head of state, while political decision-making lies primarily with Parliament and the government. His duties include appointing the government in accordance with the parliamentary majorities, promulgating laws, and carrying out representational and diplomatic duties. The government members responsible bear political responsibility for state decisions. Today, Luxembourg is the only country whose head of state bears the title of Grand Duke.

Henri has been married to Maria Teresa Mestre since 1981. She was born in Havanna and grew up, among other places, in the United States and Switzerland. The couple met while studying in Geneva. As Grand Duchess, Maria Teresa accompanies her husband at official and public engagements. However, she holds no independent constitutional office. Her inclusion therefore points more to the representational role of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess as a couple than to the actual line of succession.

Dynastic occasions regularly appear on Luxembourg commemorative coins. This is due to the fact that the head of state traditionally plays a central role in Luxembourg’s coin design. An anniversary of the government combines this practice with a clearly definable state anniversary. The issue thus forms part of a series of Luxembourg coins commemorating changes of throne, family events, and anniversaries of the grand ducal house.