Luxembourg · 175th anniversary of the death of Grand Duke Guillaume II

Issue date29 Jan 2024

Total mintage133,500

EU maximum200,000

Editions5

Edge lettering2 ★ ★ × 6, alternating upright/inverted

InscriptionGROUSSHERZOGE VU LÉTZEBUERG / GUILLAUME II 1792-1849 / 2024 / 175

DesignerChiara Principe

mintMonnaie de Paris (unc) · Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt, Utrecht (PP)

Issue occasion

The commemorative coin marks the 175th anniversary of the death of Grand Duke Wilhelm II. The design shows Grand Duke Wilhelm II as an equestrian statue on the left and a portrait of Grand Duke Henri facing left on the right. It is complemented by the inscriptions “GROUSSHERZOGE VU LÉTZEBUERG” and “GUILLAUME II 1792-1849” as well as the number “175”.

The design

The coin design shows Grand Duke Wilhelm II as an equestrian statue on the left and a left-facing portrait of Grand Duke Henri on the right. In the upper left part of the coin design, the inscriptions “GROUSSHERZOGE VU LÉTZEBUERG” and “GUILLAUME II 1792-1849” are arranged in a semicircle. The year of minting “2024” and the number “175” commemorating the 175th anniversary of his death are placed below the portrait of Grand Duke Henri. As the mint has not yet been identified, the mint marks in the illustrated placeholder may still be adjusted. The twelve stars of the European flag are depicted on the coin’s outer ring.

Background on the topic

Wilhelm II. was a member of the House of Oranien-Nassau. Before ascending to the throne, he served in the British Army, took part in the fighting against Napoleon on the Iberian Peninsula, and commanded Dutch troops at Waterloo in 1815. After the abdication of his father, Wilhelm I., he became King of the Netherlands in 1840 and, at the same time, Grand Duke of Luxembourg.

This connection was based on the provisions of the Congress of Vienna of 1815. Luxembourg had been elevated to a grand duchy and transferred to the Dutch king in personal union. However, it remained an independent territory and belonged to the German Confederation (Deutscher Bund). Even before Wilhelm’s accession, historic Luxembourg had been divided as a result of the Belgian Revolution: the western, predominantly French-speaking part went to Belgium, while the reduced Grand Duchy remained connected to the Dutch king.

An important phase in constitutional development fell during Wilhelm’s reign. In 1841, Luxembourg received its first independent constitution. Against the backdrop of the European revolutions of 1848, a more liberal system followed, with stronger popular representation and limited governmental authority for the monarch. In the Netherlands, too, Wilhelm approved a comprehensive constitutional reform through which the country developed further into a parliamentary monarchy.

The equestrian figure depicted on the coin stands on the central square in front of the City Hall of Luxembourg City. The square is officially named Place Guillaume II and is known locally as “Knuedler.” The monument, erected in the 19th century, refers to Wilhelm as sovereign and to the reorganization of the Luxembourg state at that time.

The anniversary gave Luxembourg an opportunity to revisit this phase of its monarchical and constitutional history. The connection between the historic ruler and the present-day Grand Duke also highlights the dynastic continuity of the head of state, although the personal union with the Netherlands ended after the death of Wilhelm III. in 1890.