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BELGIUM'S WATERLOO COIN DESIGN UPSETS FRANCE
We recently discussed Argentina's new banknote which thumbs its nose at British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands; this week
Pabitra Saha forwarded articles about a new Euro coin design from Belgium that has France in a snit. Here's one from The
Telegraph, with an image of the coin also provided by Pabitra Saha - thanks. Thanks to David Pickup as well, who also forwarded some
articles. -Editor
In an extraordinary intervention, France wants to block plans for a €2 coin to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the historic battle fought by the Duke of Wellington against Napoleon Bonaparte in 1815. A draft design of the coin was submitted to the Council of the European Union by Belgium, the site of the battle, in February this year. However, just days later France objected to the coin, claiming it could cause “hostile reactions in France” and undermine the eurozone.
"The circulation of coins carrying a symbol that is negative for a fraction of the European population to us appears prejudicial, in a context where the governments of the Eurozone are trying to strengthen unity and co-operation throughout the monetary union." The Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815 stopped the advance of Napoleon across Europe and sent the French emperor into exile for a second and final time. The battle was fought near the town of Waterloo in modern-day Belgium. To read the complete article, see:
Here's an article from the Daily Mail. -Editor
He told The Sun: 'This is an absolutely absurd thing to do. The battle was the salvation of Europe from a tyrannical threat.' Sir Peter Luff, the Tory MP for Mid Worcestershire, added: 'I'm delighted the Eurozone should celebrate the failure of France to create a super-state. Brussels has struggled to find evocative designs for Euro notes and coins because there are no true EU figures respected across the continent. Choosing a famous person or even a monument from one country risked offending others, so the notes portray bland, undefinable architectural shapes and a simple map of Europe. Coins have a map of Europe on one side, while each country chooses a design for the other.
The coin design is ugly, I think, and that's plenty of reason alone to can it. But history is history, and pivotal events like the
Battle of Waterloo ought to be commemorated in coinage regardless of any perceived political incorrectness. Didn't the French just
throw a parade, holds hands, and sing Kumbaya about nations standing together? This dust-up just seems bizarre. Does anyone beside the
ministry sending the letter really care? -Editor
David Pickup adds: There should be a commemorative for Agincourt later this year! I wonder the French will say about that! To read the complete article, see:
The upshot is that Belgium has withdrawn the coin design. Pabitra Saha forwarded this later article. David Sundman also sent an article
on this topic. Thanks. -Editor
Two hundred years after Napoleon’s ambitions to rule Europe died at Waterloo, France won a small battle on Wednesday to prevent the minting of a euro coin commemorating an event that shaped today’s continent. Belgium withdrew a proposal to strike a special 2-euro piece in honour of the Anglo-Dutch-German victory outside Brussels on 18 June, 1815, an EU official said, averting an EU ministerial vote after Paris objected on the grounds that glorifying a time of conflict ran counter to efforts to foster European unity. There was no immediate comment from France, which last year struck a commemorative 2-euro coin marking the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings that helped end Nazi German hegemony. To read the complete article, see:
Wayne Homren, Editor The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org. To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum All Rights Reserved. NBS Home Page Contact the NBS webmaster 
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