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A 2 euro commemorative coin of the Netherlands, issued on 1 July 2022 in a circulation of 500,000 copies. A joint issue of the euro area countries in honor of the 35th anniversary of the Erasmus program. The author of the joint design is Joaquin Jimenez ('JJ'). It was minted at the Royal Netherlands 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, focused on writing a text. In the background, numerous lines converging at different points, creating a star pattern, a symbol of the international nature of the program. At the bottom, the dates "1987-2022" and the inscription "ERASMUS PROGRAMME". Around it, the name of the country "NEDERLAND". On the ring - 12 EU stars.
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 - a large denomination "2" and the inscription "EURO", on the right - a map with six thin horizontal lines in the background. On the outer ring - 12 stars of the European Union. The band - with thin ribbing and the inscription "GOD ★ ZIJ ★ MET ★ ONS ★" (God is with us).
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. Named after the Dutch humanist philosopher Erasmus of Rotterdam (c. 1466-1536), this coin is particularly significant for the Netherlands, the country that gave its name to the program. Erasmus himself was a "traveling scholar" who studied and taught at various European universities: Paris, Oxford, Cambridge, Bologna. The idea for the program belongs to the Italian educator Sofia Corradi, who proposed it back in 1969. Since 2014, the program has been merged into the broader "Erasmus+", which covers education, youth, and sports. By 2022, more than 13 million students had participated in the program. In 2022, all eurozone countries issued a common coin.