“5 Years of Belgian Beer Culture as Intangible Heritage” Belgium 2 1/2€ commemorative coin 2021

Quality: Uncirculated
Face Value: 10 Euro
Diameter: 32 mm
Material: Copper
Total Weight: 15 g
Mintage: 130 000
Without capsule


In England the peony is sometimes referred to as the ‘rose royale’ and the Chinese word for peony means ‘the most beautiful’. Peonies have been painted by many European artists and the opulent beauty of the peony has long been a popular subject in Chinese and Japanese literature, painting and decoration. A Chinese legend has it that a capricious empress commanded all the flowers in her garden to blossom at the same time. All acquiesced apart from the peony. Annoyed by the flower’s refusal, the empress banished it to the coldest reaches of the empire, yet despite the inhospitable environment, the peony thrived. The empress, duly impressed, allowed the peony to return, declaring it the ‘queen of all flowers’.

Issuing Country: France
Face value: 5 €
Metal: Copper/Nickel
Diameter: 29 mm
Quality: B.U.
Mintage: 25 000

The wheel of the zodiac signs is engraved on the coin's gold-colored crown. One sign stands out from the background because it is larger than the others and has a sandblasted background, different from the smoother one of the others. It is the symbol of the Virgo. The main feature of the engraving is the bust of a woman whose long hair is topped with a crown of flowers. She is gazing over her shoulder with an air of mystery. Around her, a backdrop of leaves, mushrooms and crystals recalls the element of the sign, earth. In the background, a starry sky features the constellation of Virgo

Denomination: 1/4 €
Alloy: Common metal
Weight: 15,8 g
Diameter: 34 mm
Quality BU
Year: 2025

Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is a Gothic cathedral in the heart of the French capital, on the Île de la Cité. Built in the 12th century, its stained glass windows, gargoyles and flying buttresses have inspired many literary works such as Victor Hugo's novel. In April 2019, a violent fire ravaged a significant part of its structure, including its spire and roof. Restoration work then quickly began, in order to rebuild the monument identically.

On the front, in the foreground, a stonemason from the medieval period symbolizing the craftsmen who built the cathedral. In the background, the left part of the cathedral in detailed view and the right part, as well as the spire, in schematic outline of the structure to evoke its construction/reconstruction.

The reverse is common to all coins in the UNESCO series of this year 2025. It represents the terrestrial globe with the parallels and meridians on the left side and the inscriptions of major sites classified as UNESCO World Heritage on the right side. These inscriptions are as if engraved in stone, which echoes the Rosetta Stone. The left side of the globe is surrounded by the UNESCO logo as well as the marking "World Heritage". The face value is inscribed on the left side of the globe, blending perfectly with the parallels and meridians.

Materiall: CuNi
Weight: 7 g
Diameter: 22,25 mm
Mintage:

An extraordinary collection accompanies the approach to the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games of Milan Cortina 2026 and celebrates its spirit through its most iconic symbols: the logo of the event, the journey of the flame, the mascot and the winter disciplines associated with the host locations. Each coin in the collection is a tribute to the magic of sport and to Italy.

Obverse: In the centre, the official logo of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Arch-shaped, the inscription “Repubblica Italiana”. In the right field, the “R”, identifying the Mint of Rome and “2025”, the year of the coin’s issue.

Reverse: In the centre, a stylised frontal perspective of the Milan Cathedral. Arch-shaped the inscription “MILANO CORTINA 2026 WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES”; On the left “A.VECCHIO,” signature of the designer Antonio Vecchio; at the bottom centre “1/4 EURO”, coin’s value.

In 2026, a series dedicated entirely to Belgium’s native animals will be launched. The first edition will feature the largest species in our country! The Belgian draught horse will kick off the series. The special symbol on the coincard offers a glimpse of the native animals that will be featuredin the coming years.

The Belgian draft horse: strength, elegance and heritage

The Belgian draft horse, also known as the Brabant draught horse, is an imposing breed, admired worldwide for its strength, stamina and calm temperament. Originally bred for heavy agricultural work and pulling loads, including in the coal mines, it stands out for its muscular build, broad chest and strong legs. This breed combines strength with elegance: a noble head, proud bearing and a range of seven colours, of which bay roan still predominates. These characteristics make it popular with farmers, horse lovers and now also coin collectors, thanks to this tribute on the first 2½ euro coin of 2026.

Movement on a gold-coloured coin!

The strength, movement and symbolism of the draft horse inspired the Royal Mint of Belgium to issue a 2½ euro coin. The background of the coin designs shows movement and beautifully captures the draft horse in a rural setting. The coin was created in collaboration with, amongst others, the Royal Society of the Belgian Draft Horse, the Association of Flemish Breeders of the Belgian Draft Horse and immaterieel-erfgoed.be. The 2½ euro coin is minted in BU quality and comes in a coincard with two language versions.
Specifications

• Metal: Brass
• Weight: 10.50 g
• Diameter: 25.65 mm
• Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) / FDC
• Design: Iris Bruijns
• Max. mintage: 10,000 coins worldwide (distributed in 2 language versions in a coincard)