Deutsch
English
Français
Español
Italiano
Nederlands
Português
Slovenčina
Hrvatski
Slovenščina
Lietuvių
Eesti
Български
CC 446 2022
2 euro coin
BU Main coin Bank issue
2 Euro BU
Belgium · 35 years of the Erasmus Programme
Mintage895,000
Issue date1 Jul 2022
Edge lettering2 ★ ★ × 6, alternating upright/inverted
Market price€25.00
Issue occasion
The commemorative coin honours the 35th anniversary of the Erasmus programme. The design combines a well-known depiction of Erasmus as an intellectual pioneer with a network of rays of light symbolising the human and intellectual exchange among European students. Some of the connections form stars from which the anniversary number 35 emerges; in the Luxembourg issue, a portrait of the Grand Duke can also be seen in the background.
The design
The coin design combines two main elements of the Erasmus Programme: the original intellectual inspiration, Erasmus himself, and an allegory of his influence on Europe.
The first is symbolized by one of the best-known depictions of Erasmus.
The second by a beam of connections that extends from one beacon to another across the coin, representing the diverse intellectual and human exchange between European students.
With regard to Europe, some of these connections form stars emerging from the synergies between the countries.
The anniversary number 35 emerges from the stars in a contemporary graphic style.
The twelve stars of the European flag are depicted on the coin’s outer ring.
The first is symbolized by one of the best-known depictions of Erasmus.
The second by a beam of connections that extends from one beacon to another across the coin, representing the diverse intellectual and human exchange between European students.
With regard to Europe, some of these connections form stars emerging from the synergies between the countries.
The anniversary number 35 emerges from the stars in a contemporary graphic style.
The twelve stars of the European flag are depicted on the coin’s outer ring.
Background on the topic
Erasmus von Rotterdam was born around 1466 and died in Basel in 1536. He was a Dutch humanist, theologian and philologist. Like many scholars of his time, he did not work permanently in a single place, but stayed in, among other places, Paris, England, Italy, the Netherlands and Basel. He was in contact with scholars, clergy and political decision-makers in numerous countries. This cross-border way of working later made him a suitable namesake for a European exchange programme.
Erasmus studied ancient and early Christian texts and published a printed edition of the Greek New Testament with a revised Latin version in 1516. In works such as *The Praise of Folly* (*Lob der Torheit*), he criticised social abuses, church practices and scholastic scholarship. He advocated education, linguistic precision and a theology based on the study of sources. Although his criticism emerged during the Reformation, he did not join Martin Luther and rejected confessional polarisation.
The Erasmus programme began in 1987 as a funding instrument of the European Community at the time. Its name was also used as an acronym for “European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students”. The programme was intended to facilitate study stays at higher education institutions in other participating states. This included financial grants, agreements between higher education institutions and procedures for recognising academic achievements completed abroad.
Its scope was later expanded. Since 2014, Erasmus has been part of Erasmus+; this programme covers not only higher education but also vocational education and training, schools, adult education, youth projects and sport. Among other things, it supports study abroad, traineeships, teaching and training stays, and cooperation between institutions.
The issue as a joint coin design thus refers not only to a funding programme but also to the role of education and personal mobility in European cooperation. Erasmus is suitable as a namesake because his own life was shaped by travel, international correspondence and a Europe-wide scholarly network.
Erasmus studied ancient and early Christian texts and published a printed edition of the Greek New Testament with a revised Latin version in 1516. In works such as *The Praise of Folly* (*Lob der Torheit*), he criticised social abuses, church practices and scholastic scholarship. He advocated education, linguistic precision and a theology based on the study of sources. Although his criticism emerged during the Reformation, he did not join Martin Luther and rejected confessional polarisation.
The Erasmus programme began in 1987 as a funding instrument of the European Community at the time. Its name was also used as an acronym for “European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students”. The programme was intended to facilitate study stays at higher education institutions in other participating states. This included financial grants, agreements between higher education institutions and procedures for recognising academic achievements completed abroad.
Its scope was later expanded. Since 2014, Erasmus has been part of Erasmus+; this programme covers not only higher education but also vocational education and training, schools, adult education, youth projects and sport. Among other things, it supports study abroad, traineeships, teaching and training stays, and cooperation between institutions.
The issue as a joint coin design thus refers not only to a funding programme but also to the role of education and personal mobility in European cooperation. Erasmus is suitable as a namesake because his own life was shaped by travel, international correspondence and a Europe-wide scholarly network.
eBay price analysis
For this issue, there is a price history based on actual eBay sales – with median, range and number of sales
View price analysis