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2 euro commemorative coin of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, issued in January 2012 in a circulation of 720,000 copies. Dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the death of Grand Duke Wilhelm IV. Design by Yvette Gastauer-Claire. Minted at the Royal Netherlands Mint (Utrecht). Bimetallic, diameter 25.75 mm, weight 8.5 g.
Obverse
The left side of the coin depicts the profile of the current Grand Duke Henri (facing left); on the right is a portrait of Grand Duke Wilhelm IV, also in profile. Between them are the dates "1912-2012" and the inscriptions "LËTZEBUERG" (Luxembourg) and "GUILLAUME IV". The field of the coin features the symbols of the Dutch mint (winged caduceus) and the mint master (sailboat). On the outer ring are the 12 five-pointed stars of the European Union.
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
Grand Duke Wilhelm IV (full name Wilhelm Alexander Adolf Maurice Friedrich Wilhelm, 22 April 1852 – 25 February 1912) was the sixth Grand Duke of Luxembourg, reigning from 17 November 1905 until his death on 25 February 1912. Son of Grand Duke Adolf, who became Grand Duke after the abdication of William III of the Netherlands in 1890 and the separation of Luxembourg from the Netherlands (Salic law prevented Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands from inheriting Luxembourg). Wilhelm IV was married to Maria Anna of Braganza, daughter of King Miguel I of Portugal; had 6 daughters. Due to the lack of male heirs, in 1907 he promulgated the Family Statute, which allowed his daughters to inherit the throne. The first of these was his eldest daughter, Marie-Adeline, who became Grand Duchess in 1912. The coin commemorates his contribution to the formation of the modern constitutional monarchy of Luxembourg.