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CC 43 2008
Coincard
BU
Coincard
Luxembourg · Château de Berg
Mintage15,000
Issue price€9.00
Issue date1 Feb 2008
PackagingCoincard
Edge lettering2 ★ ★ × 6, alternating upright/inverted
Market price€19.00
Issue occasion
The commemorative coin is dedicated to Grand Duke Henri and the Residenz Schlossberg. The design shows Grand Duke Henri in the left foreground in half-profile facing right and the Schlossberg in the background on the right; “LËTZEBUERG” appears along the lower edge.
The design
The inner part of the coin depicts, in the foreground on the left, the portrait of His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri in half-profile facing right and, in the background on the right, the Schlossberg. The year 2008, flanked on either side by the engraver’s mark and the mint mark, is engraved along the upper edge of the inner part of the coin. The name of the issuing state, “LËTZEBUERG”, appears along the lower edge of the inner part of the coin.
The outer ring of the coin depicts the twelve stars of the European flag.
The outer ring of the coin depicts the twelve stars of the European flag.
Background on the topic
The complex referred to in the Official Journal as “Residenz Schlossberg” is Schloss Berg, known in French as Château de Berg, in the municipality of Colmar-Berg in central Luxembourg. The name therefore does not refer to a castle hill, but to a grand ducal residence. Schloss Berg serves as the principal residence of the Grand Duke and his family. It should be distinguished from the Grand Ducal Palace (Großherzoglicher Palast) in the capital, which is used primarily for official business, receptions and state ceremonies.
The estate has been associated with the Luxembourg ruling house since the mid-19th century. The present castle was built at the beginning of the 20th century in place of an older building. During the German occupation of Luxembourg in the Second World War, the complex was confiscated. After the end of the war, it once again came into use by the grand ducal family and was restored. As a permanently inhabited residence, Schloss Berg represents the private and dynastic side of the monarchy, while the palace in the capital forms its public and governmental centre.
Henri was born in 1955 as the eldest son of the future Grand Duke Jean and the Belgian Princess Joséphine-Charlotte. In 2000, following his father’s abdication, he assumed the office of Grand Duke. Luxembourg is a parliamentary monarchy; the Grand Duke is the head of state, but his duties and powers are limited by the constitution and the parliamentary system of government. His functions include formal participation in state procedures as well as representational duties at home and abroad.
The issue was apparently not tied to a round-number anniversary of the castle or the Grand Duke. Rather, it belongs to the Luxembourg commemorative coins that link the head of state with places and institutions of the monarchy. Following an issue dedicated to the Grand Ducal Palace (Großherzoglicher Palast), another residence of the ruling house was thus placed at the centre.
The estate has been associated with the Luxembourg ruling house since the mid-19th century. The present castle was built at the beginning of the 20th century in place of an older building. During the German occupation of Luxembourg in the Second World War, the complex was confiscated. After the end of the war, it once again came into use by the grand ducal family and was restored. As a permanently inhabited residence, Schloss Berg represents the private and dynastic side of the monarchy, while the palace in the capital forms its public and governmental centre.
Henri was born in 1955 as the eldest son of the future Grand Duke Jean and the Belgian Princess Joséphine-Charlotte. In 2000, following his father’s abdication, he assumed the office of Grand Duke. Luxembourg is a parliamentary monarchy; the Grand Duke is the head of state, but his duties and powers are limited by the constitution and the parliamentary system of government. His functions include formal participation in state procedures as well as representational duties at home and abroad.
The issue was apparently not tied to a round-number anniversary of the castle or the Grand Duke. Rather, it belongs to the Luxembourg commemorative coins that link the head of state with places and institutions of the monarchy. Following an issue dedicated to the Grand Ducal Palace (Großherzoglicher Palast), another residence of the ruling house was thus placed at the centre.