Luxembourg. Commemorative €2 Coins Mark the 75th Anniversary of Europe’s Schuman Declaration

The first coin remembers the 75th Anniversary of the Schuman Declaration which will be observed on the 9^th May 2025. This was the date when French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman delivered a speech which has since become known as the ‘Schuman Declaration’. During his speech, the Foreign Minister proposed the pooling of French and German coal and steel production to facilitate the swifter rebuilding of war-torn Europe as well as preventing future wars between the two nations. Schuman would have had in mind three destructive conflicts between France and Germany - in 1870, the First World War in 1914 and the Second World War ending in 1945 which devastated both countries economically and militarily. The contents of his speech was considered the founding act of today’s European Union, since the European Coal and Steel Community was founded on the 18th April 1951 and paved the way for further integration as the European Economic Community in 1957.

The UNC strike coins are produced by the Monnaie de Paris at their facilities in Pessac, Gironde on behalf of the Banque Centrale de Luxembourg and designed by Chiara Principe. The obverse side features the numeral 75referencing the anniversary and just above, is the inscription SCHUMAN DECLARATION 09.05.1950. To the right of the decorative numeral, is a hand holding a pen which also extends into an olive branch, a universal symbol of peace and reconciliation as well as flying doves and five-pointed stars. The pen signs the treaty which formed the ECSC. Just below the numeral is the monogram of HRH Grand Duke Henri, represented by a crown above the letter H. To the right of the primary design is the vertical text LUXEMBOURG 2025. The reverse side is that of the standard Euro-zone design for all circulating 2 Euro coins, the numeral ‘2’ superimposed over a map depicting Europe created by artist Luc Luycx.

The BU strikes will be available in March, and are presented in a coin-card format. The proof quality coins are encapsulated and presented in a custom case accompanied with a certificate of authenticity. The uncirculated versions will enter circulation in July. For additional information, please visit the e-webshop of the Banque Centrale de Luxembourg.