Malta · 35 years of the Erasmus Programme

Issue date17 Nov 2022

Total mintage95,000

EU maximum82,500

Editions2

Edge lettering2 ✠✠ × 6, alternately upright/inverted

Inscription1987-2022 / ERASMUS / PROGRAMME / MALTA

DesignerJoaquin Jimenez

mintKoninklijke Nederlandse Munt, Utrecht

Issue occasion

The commemorative coin marks the 35th anniversary of the Erasmus programme. The design combines a well-known depiction of Erasmus with a ray of connections symbolising the intellectual and human 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 main elements of the Erasmus programme: the original intellectual inspiration, Erasmus himself, and an allegory of his influence on Europe.

The former is symbolized by one of the best-known depictions of Erasmus.

The latter is represented by a ray of connections extending from one beacon to another across the coin, symbolizing 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

The Erasmus Programme was established in 1987 by the European Community (Europäische Gemeinschaft) of that time. Its name refers to Erasmus von Rotterdam and was also used as an acronym for “European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students.” The programme was intended to facilitate study stays in other European countries. This included financial grants, agreements between higher education institutions and the recognition of academic achievements completed abroad. In the initial phase, eleven countries and slightly more than 3,000 students took part.

Since 2014, higher education mobility has been part of Erasmus+. This broader EU programme includes not only higher education but also vocational education and training, school education, adult education, youth projects and sport. Support is provided not only to learners but also, among others, to teachers, trainees and employees of educational institutions. A stay abroad is intended to combine subject-related learning with language skills and experiences in a different social environment.

Erasmus von Rotterdam was a Dutch humanist, theologian and philologist of the Renaissance. He was born in the 15th century and died in 1536 in Basel. His scholarly life took him to various places in Europe, including Paris, England, Italy, Leuven (Löwen) and Basel. He wrote predominantly in Latin and corresponded with numerous scholars. Among his best-known works is the satirical The Praise of Folly (Lob der Torheit). He also published a Greek-Latin edition of the New Testament. Education, linguistic knowledge and exchange across political and ecclesiastical borders shaped his work; for this reason, his name was suitable as a reference point for a European mobility programme.

The anniversary provided an opportunity for a joint coin issue because Erasmus is based on the cooperation of numerous European countries and cannot be attributed to just one country. The choice of a uniform basic motif reflects this cross-border character. At the same time, a circulating coin brings the subject to the attention of the public beyond higher education institutions and educational establishments.