Greece · 35 years of the Erasmus Programme

Issue date1 Jul 2022

Total mintage750,000

EU maximum750,000

Editions3

Edge letteringΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ + ★

Inscription1987-2022 / ERASMUS / PROGRAMME / ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ / J.J.

DesignerJoaquin Jimenez

mintBank of Greece - Mint, Halandri

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 originator of ideas with a ray 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 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 extending from one beacon to another across the coin, representing the diverse intellectual and human exchange between European students.

In relation 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

The Erasmus programme dates back to a decision taken by the European Communities in 1987. Its name is also an acronym for “European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students”. In its initial phase, higher education institutions from eleven countries took part; at first, 3,244 students went abroad with the programme. In addition to stays abroad, support was provided for cooperation between higher education institutions and the mutual recognition of academic achievements. This was intended to ensure that a semester abroad would not result in an unnecessary extension of the course of study.

Since 2014, Erasmus has been part of “Erasmus+”. Under this name, previously separate programmes for general and vocational education, youth and sport were brought together. The programme is aimed not only at students but also, among others, at school pupils, trainees, teachers, higher education staff and youth workers. In addition to individual stays, Erasmus+ supports partnerships between educational institutions and organisations.

The programme is named after Desiderius Erasmus von Rotterdam, a humanist, theologian and Renaissance philologist. He was born in Rotterdam in the 15th century and died in Basel in 1536. Erasmus stayed in several European countries, studied and taught, worked with printers and scholars, and maintained an extensive network of correspondence. Among other works, he published textual-critical studies of the New Testament and the satire “The Praise of Folly” (“Lob der Torheit”). His cross-border life and work made him a natural symbol of academic exchange. The depiction on the coin is based on a portrait of Erasmus writing by Hans Holbein the Younger (Hans Holbein dem Jüngeren).

The issue belongs to the joint issues with the same design produced by the euro countries. Such coins commemorate occasions that concern more than one individual state. This was particularly appropriate for the Erasmus anniversary, as the programme is based on cooperation between numerous European states and educational institutions. The design by Joaquin Jimenez was selected following a design competition in a public online vote.