Belgium

2021

Commemorative coin

The 100th anniversary of the constitution of the Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union (BLEU)

Official Journal of the European Union

It was a customs union and a currency union with the aim of strengthening cooperation and integration between the two countries. The union started with a first period of 50 years that was signed on 25 July 1921. Several new protocols were subsequently signed since the start of the BLEU in order to maintain it for a longer period of time. The latest protocol was signed between the two countries on 18 December 2002. The national side of the coin features the effigy of the Belgian King Philip I and that of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg. In addition, both countries are depicted, with the mention of the Economic Union, and the years 1921 and 2021. As the Royal Dutch Mint will strike the coins, the mintmark of Utrecht, a mercury staff is located on the bottom together with the Belgian mint director mintmark, the coat of arms of the municipality Herzele. It also contains the initials LL, referring to the designer of the coin, Mr. Luc Luycx. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Additional information

Although the population of Luxembourg had voted by a majority of over 60 % in favour of economic annexation to France in the referendum of 28 September 1919 after the First World War, the Economic Union Treaty with Belgium was concluded two years later because France opposed an economic link with Luxembourg. One of the most important measures of the customs union, abbreviated UEBL, was the pegging of the Belgian and Luxembourg francs. The exchange rates of the two currencies were thus the same until they were replaced by the euro in 2002. The treaty establishing the UEBL was signed in Brussels on 25 July 1921, entered into force on 22 December 1922 and became a precursor to the Benelux Economic Union. A new agreement aimed at bringing the provisions of the Treaty into line with those of the European Union was signed in 2002 and published in the Moniteur belge on 6 January 2005. The new text also takes into account the new distribution of powers in the Belgian federal state by being co-signed by the three Belgian regions. It also extends the scope of Belgian-Luxembourg cooperation beyond the economic objective by providing for increased cooperation in international institutions and the intensification of relations in the fields of development aid, defence and peacekeeping.

Edge lettering

Designer