On Monday, the Dutch Defence Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert presented a new 5 euro commemorative coin, created for the bicentenary of the battle of Waterloo. The Dutch fought with allied forces against the French army and their Emperor Napoleon during the battle of Waterloo, which took place on the 18th of June 1815.
On the front of the coin, there is a portrait of the current Dutch monarch Willem-Alexander, while the back shows the Prince of Orange’s hat (the future king William II). He is portrayed as a symbol of the battle.
The new 5 euro coin is legal tender in the Netherlands. But, as with all commemorative coins, it is very rare to find it used as payment, as its collection value is higher.
The Belgian Royal Mint decided to create two commemorative coins, a silver 10 euro coin and a brass 2.5 euro coin.
The Finance Minister originally wanted to create a 2 euro coin for the bicentenary, which could have been used as legal tender in the euro zone. But France, which certainly hasn't forgotten Napoleon’s defeat 200 years ago, was against the idea.
(Source: Belga)
