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2 euro commemorative coin of Spain, issued on July 1, 2022 in a circulation of 1,000,000 copies. Joint issue of the euro area countries in honor of the 35th anniversary of the Erasmus program. The author of the design is Joaquin Jimenez, winner of the European Commission competition, initials "JJ". Minted at the Madrid Mint. Bimetallic, diameter 25.75 mm, weight 8.5 g.
Obverse
On the national side, in the center of the coin, the profile of the humanist Erasmus of Rotterdam is depicted - philosopher, theologian, author of "Praise of Folly", after whom the program is named. Erasmus is shown concentrated on writing a text. In the background - numerous lines that converge at different points, creating a star pattern - a symbol of the international nature of the program and exchange throughout Europe. On the coin's field is the author's signature "JJ" (Joaquin Jimenez). Inscriptions: "35° ANIVERSARIO DEL PROGRAMA ERASMUS" (35th anniversary of the Erasmus program) and "ESPAÑA 2022". On the outer ring are the 12 stars of the EU.
Reverse
The reverse is the common side of the 2 euro coins of the second type, designed by Luc Luix (Royal Belgian Mint). It depicts a map of Europe as a single continent without internal borders - a symbol of European unity. On the left is a large denomination "2" and the inscription "EURO", on the right is a map with six thin horizontal lines in the background. On the outer ring are the 12 stars of the European Union. The band is finely fluted and has the inscription "2 ★", repeated six times alternately upright and inverted.
Historical context
The Erasmus program (European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students) is one of the most famous programs of the European Union, launched on June 15, 1987 to stimulate student exchange between European universities. It is named after the Dutch humanist philosopher Erasmus of Rotterdam (c. 1466-1536), who himself was a "traveling scholar" who studied and taught at various European universities. The idea of the program belongs to the Italian teacher Sofia Corradi (called the "mother of Erasmus"), who proposed it back in 1969; the program was implemented with the help of Domenico Lenarduzzi in 1987. Since 2014, the programme has been merged into the broader Erasmus+ programme, which covers education, youth, sport and vocational training. By 2022, more than 13 million students had taken part in the programme. In 2022, the programme celebrated its 35th anniversary and all eurozone countries issued a common coin.