Belgium’s Royal Mint has created 2 commemorative coins, a silver 10 euro coin and a brass 2.5 euro coin. They commemorate the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo, which took place on the 18th of June 1815. The 2.5 euro coin is the first Belgian coin with this nominal value. It features the Butte du Lion and a map showing the position of French and allied troops during the battle. The Finance Minister originally wanted to create a 2 euro coin, which could have been used as payment throughout the Euro zone, to commemorate the event. But France, which appears not to have forgotten Napoleon’s defeat 200 years ago, was against the idea.
Belgian authorities therefore chose to create a commemorative 2.5 euro coin, which cannot be used as official payment. 100,000 copies will be made, and they will cost 6 euros. The Royal Mint also decided to create a silver 10 euro coin for the bicentenary. It features a key moment in the battle: the English officer Freemantle telling Wellington that their Prussians allies had finally arrived at the battleground.
The foreground features Prince William of Orange on a stretcher, having been shot in the left shoulder. There is a silhouette of Napoleon high on the left-hand side. 10,000 copies of this coin will be made. They will cost 42 euros. These 2 coins are for sale exclusively on the Belgian Royal Mint website.
(Source: Belga)
