France · 35 years of the Erasmus programme

Issue date1 Jul 2022

Total mintage3,520,000

EU maximum3,500,000

Editions3

Edge lettering2 ★ ★ × 6, alternating upright/inverted

InscriptionRF / 1987-2022 / ERASMUS / PROGRAMME

DesignerJoaquin Jimenez

mintMonnaie de Paris, Pessac

Issue occasion

The commemorative coin marks the 35th anniversary of the Erasmus programme. The design combines a well-known depiction of Erasmus as an intellectual source of inspiration with a network of connections symbolising the diverse exchange between 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 additionally be seen in the background.

The design

The coin design combines two key elements of the Erasmus Programme: its original intellectual inspiration, Erasmus himself, and an allegory of his influence on Europe. The former is symbolised by one of the best-known depictions of Erasmus. The latter is represented by a network of connections extending from one beacon to another across the coin, symbolising the diverse intellectual and human exchange between European students. In reference 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

Desiderius Erasmus von Rotterdam was probably born in 1466 and died in Basel in 1536. He was a theologian, philologist and one of the best-known representatives of Renaissance humanism. Erasmus lived and worked in several European cities, including Paris, Löwen, Cambridge, Freiburg and Basel. At that time, scholars communicated across borders primarily in Latin; Erasmus, too, maintained an extensive network of correspondence. His writings include the satire “In Praise of Folly” (“Lob der Torheit”). He also published a Greek-Latin edition of the New Testament and addressed questions of education, religion and church life. This cross-border biography explains why his name was chosen for a European exchange programme.

“ERASMUS” is also an acronym for “European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students”. The programme was established in 1987 by the then European Community. It was intended to enable students to complete a recognised part of their studies in another European country. In addition to financial grants, this required agreements between higher education institutions and procedures for recognising study achievements obtained abroad. This led to lasting partnerships between universities.

Over time, the exchange was extended to additional countries and participant groups. Since 2014, it has been part of Erasmus+. In addition to higher education stays, this programme covers vocational education and training, school education, adult education, youth projects and sport, among other areas. Support is provided not only to learners, but also, for example, to teachers, trainees and higher education staff.

The anniversary lent itself to a joint issue by several euro-area countries because Erasmus is not linked to the history of a single country. The programme represents a form of European cooperation that is directly experienced in everyday education and professional life. The choice of a common coin design also indicates that student mobility is based on coordinated rules and the cooperation of numerous national institutions. The specific design resulted from a competition and was subsequently selected in an EU-wide online vote.