Belgium 2 Euros - Philippe, 2023

2 Euros - Philippe from Belgium. Issued in 2023. Struck in Bimetallic: nickel brass clad nickel centre in copper-nickel ring (Core: 75% Cu, 20% Zn, 5% Ni Ring: 75% Cu, 25% Ni). Measures 25.75 mm and weighs 8.5 g.

Obverse

The design shows a decorative detail from the facade of the ‘Hotel Van Eetvelde’, an iconic town house in Brussels which has been designed by the Belgian art nouveau architect Victor Horta and has been recognized as Unesco World Heritage. The curved, asymmetrical lines of this decorative detail reflect the characteristic nature-inspired style of the art nouveau movement. This detail fills up the bottom half of the piece, leaving a vacant space on the upper half, which is filled with the description ‘ART NOUVEAU’. At the far right are the initials of the designer Iris Bruijns located. As the Royal Dutch Mint will strike the coins, the mintmark of Utrecht, a mercury staff is located on the far left together with the Belgian mint director mintmark, an aster flower in front of an Erlenmeyer flask, the country code BE and the year mark 2023. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Reverse

A geographical map of Western Europe spans the outer ring and inner core on the right side of the coin. The inscription 2 EURO is superimposed over the map of Europe, with the numeral “2” located in an open field representing the eastern Atlantic Ocean. 12 stars are located on the right side of the outer ring, with six stars atop the map of Europe and six stars below it; six vertical stripes cut across the inner core of the coin, visually connecting the upper and lower star segments.

Edge

Fine flute engraving: the inscription "2★★", repeated six times, is oriented alternately from bottom to top and from top to bottom.