Belgium

2018

Commemorative coin

The 50th anniversary of May 1968 events in Belgium

Official Journal of the European Union

The design represents students with a pamphlet and flag in their hands and refers to student demonstrations that took place in Belgium in connection with the sociocultural changes of May 1968. It was an important national event that shaped Belgium’s national politics and influenced subsequent Government reforms, now 50 years ago. The mintmark of Utrecht (the Mercury’s wand) is located on the left together with the Belgian mint master mark (the coat of arms of the municipality Herzele). The year mark 2018 and the country code BE are located at the left as well, just like the initials LL of the designer of the coin, Mr Luc Luycx. An auditorium marks the back, which is a reference to students. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Additional information

The motif shows two students in front of the stylised façade of a university with a flag or leaflet and symbolises student demonstrations that took place in Belgium in May 1968 in connection with the socio-cultural changes. These events, now 50 years ago, were of national importance and had an impact on Belgian politics and subsequent state reforms. In Belgium, for example, students fought against the French-speaking influence at the bilingual University of Leuven. During the months of negotiations - reflecting the Flemish-Walloon conflict - the modalities of separation were discussed, in particular the compensation payments that the Université catholique de Louvain was to receive for the buildings and facilities left behind in Leuven. In the autumn of 1968, it was decided to split up into the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and the Université catholique de Louvain. A new city south of the language border, Louvain-la-Neuve ("New Louvain"), was built for them from 1971 onwards, the first Belgian refoundation of a city in three hundred years. The separation of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel from the former bilingual Université Libre de Bruxelles is also linked to May '68.

Edge lettering

Designer