In the history of the world, only a few coinages have developed into international commercial currencies. In order to be accepted outside the territory where it was issued, a coin had to satisfy a number of conditions relating to its weight, alloy and value, and had to be familiar to many. From the end of the 12th century, the English sterling penny amply fulfilled these conditions; throughout north-western Europe it enjoyed a reputation as a strong and reliable currency.
Tag: coins
New 2-euro commemorative coin on display in the Museum
The newest Belgian 2-euro commemorative coin is dedicated to Louis Braille (1809 - 1852) and the 200th anniversary of his birthday.
Each event its own coin.
Since 2004, the countries belonging to the Eurosystem have received, from the European Council, the right to mint commemorative 2€-coins, but only once a year and one per country. These coins are legal tender in the whole euro area. They are struck to commemorate historic or current events of a specific importance.
The Athenian drachma, a long tradition … from antique coin to euro
Greeks love their history and the introduction of the euro coins and notes offered them a perfect occasion to pass on this passion to the rest of Europe. With the owl and the olive branch on the national side of their 1 euro coin they underline their rich past, the historic importance of the Athenian city-state and last but not least the fact that Greece is the cradle of European coinage.
One of Julius Caesar’s last coins
There’s hardly any discussion amongst historians that Julius Caesar was a great statesman. He was also the first Roman who dared to depict himself on one of his coins. And even 20 centuries later his name is still on people’s lips and continues to appeal to one’s imagination. Who was this famous ruler?
The first “belgian” coins: lions d’or and lions d’argent of the United Belgian States
Belgium got its independence in 1830. The history of the Belgian franc - replaced by the euro in 1999 - dates back to 1832 when its characteristics were defined by law. The first “belgian” coins were struck a few years earlier, in 1790.
The Treaties of Rome
“25 March 1957… this will be one of the greatest dates in European history …”
Those were the words pronounced by Paul-Henri Spaak at the time of the signing of the Treaties in Rome by the countries forming the Europe of the Six (France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg). The Treaties were an important step towards the unification of Europe.
The patagon
Perhaps on Newyear’s Day, after having read out loud your letter with Season’s greetings, you have received a currant loaf or other type of sweet bread, which is called ‘zoetekoek’, ‘krolleman’ or kramiek’ in several regions of Flanders. Some of these delicious breads are decorated with a painted clay pipe disk. Not only these party breads but also the disks are known by different names such as ‘patacon’, ’schild’ (shield or ecu), ‘maan’ (moon), ‘rondelle’ (slice), …
Emergency money
Everybody knows probably the stories about butter and eggs which have been smuggled from the countryside to the city during the war. But how were these butter and eggs paid for?
Celtic effigies under the microscope
Abstract, stylised, non-figurative … These are just a few of the words that come to mind when looking at the obverse of this Celtic coin. It certainly appears as if a number of meaningless signs or symbols have been arbitrarily combined. But is that really the case? Does the obverse of this coin not tell [...]
