Unique euro coins celebrate 50 years of ESA
To mark the 50th anniversary of the European Space Agency (ESA), the Royal Mint of Belgium and the Royal Dutch Mint are issuing limited-edition commemorative euro coins.
Developed in partnership with ESA, the two coins are distinct yet united in purpose. Each involves a design that honours half a century of ESA’s achievements in space and symbolises its ambition of elevating the future of Europe.
“Fifty years is a wonderful milestone for the European Space Agency, but really we are just getting started,” said Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director General. “There is so much to look forward to in the future of the space industry – discoveries to be made, new missions to be flown, and great friendships to be forged. I am happy to share this occasion with our Member States and look with hope to the decades ahead.”
The Royal Mint of Belgium is issuing a €2.50 commemorative coin, struck in limited quantities. The obverse features ESA’s official 50th anniversary design. Each coin is presented in a dedicated coincard, available in either French or Dutch. On 26 May, the first coin was formally handed over to Jean-Luc Trullemans, Head of ESA’s European Space Security and Education Centre (ESEC) in Redu, Belgium, by Belgian Mintmaster Giovanni Van de Velde.
Meanwhile, the Royal Dutch Mint is preparing the release of a collector 50 euro cent coin, presented in a specially designed coincard celebrating ESA. This rare honour was granted by De Nederlandsche Bank. The first Dutch coin was presented on 23 May at ESA’s technical centre, ESTEC in Noordwijk, The Netherlands, to Dietmar Pilz, ESA Director of Technology, Engineering and Quality, by Mintmaster Bert van Ravenswaaij.
Both coins will be available from early June via the official websites: Herdenkingsmunten.be and the Royal Dutch Mint.