2 Euro Proof (2nd Proof Set 2009-2012)

The occasion for the issue was the 90th anniversary of Grand Duchess Charlotte’s accession to the throne in 1919. Through its joint depiction with the reigning Grand Duke, the coin also refers to the dynastic connection: Charlotte was Henri’s grandmother. Her son Jean succeeded her to the throne; his son Henri became Grand Duke in 2000.

Charlotte was born in 1896 and assumed the rule after the abdication of her elder sister Marie-Adélaïde. After the First World War, Marie-Adélaïde had come under political pressure. She was accused of having maintained overly close contacts with the German leadership during the German occupation of Luxembourg and of having interfered too strongly in domestic politics. The post-war period was marked by social conflicts, republican aspirations and a debate about the future of the monarchy.

Shortly after Charlotte took office, a referendum confirmed the retention of the monarchy. This marked the beginning of a reign that lasted until 1964. As a constitutional monarch, Charlotte primarily performed representative duties, while political responsibility lay with the government and Parliament.

After the German invasion in 1940, Charlotte left the country with her family and the government. From exile, she addressed the Luxembourg population in radio broadcasts. The government in exile joined the Allies; Charlotte’s public appearances closely linked the monarchy with the continued existence of the Luxembourg state during the occupation. After the liberation, she returned to Luxembourg in 1945.

In 1964, Charlotte abdicated in favour of her son Jean. She died in 1985. The 2009 coin issue therefore commemorated not only a royal anniversary, but also highlighted the familial and institutional continuity of the Luxembourg monarchy across three generations.