Deutsch
English
Français
Español
Italiano
Nederlands
Português
Slovenčina
Hrvatski
Slovenščina
Lietuvių
Eesti
Български
CC 487 2023
2 euro coin
BU Main coin Bank issue
2 Euro BU
Luxembourg · 25th anniversary of Grand Duke Henri’s admission as a member of the International Olympic Committee (Internationales Olympisches Komitee)
Mintage120,000
Issue date24 Apr 2023
Edge lettering2 ★ ★ × 6, alternating upright/inverted
Market price€12.90
Varieties
41.1 1.3 · BU · Coincard · Mintage 7,500
Mz. Rabe u. Merkurstab, Relieftechnik, mit Designerz.
25th Anniversary of Grand Duke Henri’s Admission as a Member of the International Olympic Committee · BU Mint Set · Mintage 2,500
Münzzeichen Rabe und Merkurstab, Fototechnik
25th Anniversary of Grand Duke Henri’s Admission as a Member of the International Olympic Committee · Proof · Mint set proof, Proof set 22-23 · Mintage 3,500
Mincovna Kremnica, ohne Designerzeichen
25th Anniversary of Grand Duke Henri’s Admission as a Member of the International Olympic Committee · Circulation · Rolls · Mintage 120,000
Münzzeichen Monnaie de Paris, mit Designerzeichen
Issue occasion
The coin commemorates the 25th anniversary of Grand Duke Henri’s membership in the International Olympic Committee (Internationalen Olympischen Komitee). The design shows his portrait facing right with an embossed “25”, surrounded by pictograms of Olympic disciplines and three overlapping circles. It is supplemented by the inscriptions “MEMBER VUM INTERNATIONALEN OLYMPESCHE KOMMITEE”, “LËTZEBUERG” and “GROUSSHERZOG HENRI”.
The design
Depicted is a portrait of Grand Duke Henri, gazing to the right at an embossed “25”. The portrait is surrounded by several pictograms representing Olympic disciplines. Below the portrait, three overlapping circles complete the design. In the lower right, the inscription “MEMBER VUM INTERNATIONALEN OLYMPESCHE KOMMITEE” can be read. On the left are the name of the country, “LËTZEBUERG”, and the inscription “GROUSSHERZOG HENRI”.
The outer coin ring depicts the twelve stars of the European flag.
The outer coin ring depicts the twelve stars of the European flag.
Background on the topic
Grand Duke Henri has been head of state of Luxembourg since 2000. He assumed the office after the abdication of his father, Grand Duke Jean. Henri had already been elected to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1998. In doing so, he also followed a family tradition: Jean had been a member of the IOC since 1946 and became an honorary member after the end of his regular membership.
The IOC was founded in 1894 on the initiative of Pierre de Coubertin and forms the institutional basis of the modern Olympic Games. Its tasks include awarding and supervising the Games, establishing the rules in the Olympic Charter, and recognising national Olympic committees and international sports federations. IOC members are formally not delegates of their states. According to the organisation’s own understanding, they instead represent the IOC and the Olympic movement in their respective countries.
Henri’s admission therefore did not constitute Luxembourg’s membership in the IOC, but was a personal election. His activity links the head of state of Luxembourg with an international, non-governmental sports organisation. Luxembourg itself has its own National Olympic Committee, the Comité Olympique et Sportif Luxembourgeois, and has participated in the Olympic Games since the early 20th century. One of the best-known Luxembourgish Olympic champions is the middle-distance runner Josy Barthel, who won the 1,500-metre race in Helsinki in 1952.
The issue fits into the Luxembourg practice of frequently linking commemorative coins with events involving the grand ducal house or with the public duties of the head of state. At the same time, the quarter-century reached in the year of issue provided a clearly defined link between Luxembourg and the Olympic movement. The occasion thus relates both to Henri’s personal role in the IOC and to the long-standing involvement of the grand ducal family in its work.
The IOC was founded in 1894 on the initiative of Pierre de Coubertin and forms the institutional basis of the modern Olympic Games. Its tasks include awarding and supervising the Games, establishing the rules in the Olympic Charter, and recognising national Olympic committees and international sports federations. IOC members are formally not delegates of their states. According to the organisation’s own understanding, they instead represent the IOC and the Olympic movement in their respective countries.
Henri’s admission therefore did not constitute Luxembourg’s membership in the IOC, but was a personal election. His activity links the head of state of Luxembourg with an international, non-governmental sports organisation. Luxembourg itself has its own National Olympic Committee, the Comité Olympique et Sportif Luxembourgeois, and has participated in the Olympic Games since the early 20th century. One of the best-known Luxembourgish Olympic champions is the middle-distance runner Josy Barthel, who won the 1,500-metre race in Helsinki in 1952.
The issue fits into the Luxembourg practice of frequently linking commemorative coins with events involving the grand ducal house or with the public duties of the head of state. At the same time, the quarter-century reached in the year of issue provided a clearly defined link between Luxembourg and the Olympic movement. The occasion thus relates both to Henri’s personal role in the IOC and to the long-standing involvement of the grand ducal family in its work.
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