Since 2002, the euro has been the currency of 19 EU countries with over 340 million inhabitants, and the second most important currency in the world. Euro coins and banknotes are a tangible, everyday reminder of the freedom, ease of payment and many opportunities offered by the European Union. Twenty years after the introduction of the euro, we've almost forgotten that we used to pay in national currency, and that we had to run to the bank every time we went on vacation to fill up with lire, pesetas or drachmas.

A resounding 2½ euro coin
as the icing on the birthday cake

To mark the 20th anniversary of the euro, the Royal Mint of Belgium has decided to issue a 2.5 euro coin on the theme "20 years of the euro". The coin is minted in BU quality and in two language versions. This coincard is inspired by the digital euro. On the front of the coin, the euro symbol appears on a background of globe-shaped binary digits, surrounded by quotation marks and "20 YEARS EURO". The sequence of numbers: 11100010 10000010 10101100 represents the "€". The quote at the bottom "PER ASPERA AD ASTRA" is by Honorary Governor Jan Smets, then Euro Commissioner, responsible for the introduction of the euro in Belgium. "Via les difficultés vers les étoiles" is still relevant and appropriate for the introduction and use of the world's second-largest currency. Stars and stripes are depicted on the right-hand side of the design, inspired by the value face of euro circulation coins. In the star path, the everyday benefits of using the euro coin are named: "WORK STUDY RETIRE TRAVEL SHOPPING BUSINESS". To the left of the stars is the letter P, the initial of engraver/modeller Pannos Goutzemisis.
The reverse of the coin features the usual graphic elements such as the value, the year and the map of Europe. A European-inspired coincard wrapper adds the finishing touch.