Spain · 35 years of the Erasmus Programme

Issue date1 Jul 2022

Total mintage1,000,000

EU maximum1,000,000

Editions5

Edge lettering2 ★ ★ × 6, alternating upright/inverted

Inscription1987-2022 / ERASMUS / PROGRAMME / ESPAÑA

DesignerJoaquin Jimenez

mintFábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre / · Real Casa de la Moneda, Madrid

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 initiator with a network of connections symbolising the diverse human and intellectual exchange between European students. Some of the connections form stars, from which the anniversary number 35 emerges.

The design

The coin design shows a combination of two key elements of the Erasmus programme: the original intellectual inspiration, Erasmus himself, and the allegory of his influence on Europe.
The first is symbolised 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.
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 outer coin ring.

Background on the topic

Erasmus von Rotterdam was a Dutch scholar of Renaissance humanism. He lived from around 1466 to 1536 and focused primarily on theology, philology and ancient literature. For study, teaching and publications, he stayed in several European countries, including France, England, Italy and the territories of present-day Switzerland. One of his best-known writings is the satirical Praise of Folly (Lob der Torheit). He also prepared a Greek-Latin edition of the New Testament. His cross-border scholarly biography made him the namesake of a European exchange programme. The depiction featured on the coin is based on a portrait by Hans Holbein dem Jüngeren showing Erasmus while writing.

The Erasmus Programme was established in 1987 by the European Community at the time. Its name was also used as an acronym for “European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students”. The programme was intended to facilitate study visits in other European countries. This included financial grants, agreements between higher education institutions and procedures for recognising academic achievements completed abroad. An important obstacle to exchange had previously been that different study regulations and examination procedures made recognition difficult.

The programme, initially focused on higher education, developed into broader European educational cooperation. Since 2014, areas such as vocational education and training, schools, adult education, youth and sport have also been brought together under the name Erasmus+. In addition to learners, teachers, higher education staff and trainees, among others, can take part in funded stays and cooperation projects.

The occasion is suitable for a joint issue by several euro countries because the programme is directly oriented towards exchange across national borders. It connects European education policy with personal experiences in other countries and is therefore one of the measures of European integration that become concretely tangible in everyday life for many participants. The joint coin issue underlines this cross-border character.