5 Euro (first train on European mainland) – Belgium
Non-circulating coins
Commemoration: 185 years first train on European mainland
Belgium
Material
References
KM: #Click to copy to clipboard413
Numista: #259290
Value
Exchange value: 5 EUR = $5.91
Bullion value: $39.24
Inflation-adjusted value: 5.99 EUR
Obverse
Description:
European Union map, twelve stars, trilingual title, face value, issue year, difference between Commissaires des Monnaies and Maison de la Monnaie, and engraver's initials "LL".
Inscription:
5 EURO 2020
LL
BELGIQUE - BELGIE - BELGIEN
LL
BELGIQUE - BELGIE - BELGIEN
Translation:
5 EURO 2020
LL
BELGIUM - BELGIUM - BELGIUM
LL
BELGIUM - BELGIUM - BELGIUM
Script: Latin
Engraver: Luc Luycx
Reverse
Description:
The first train ride on mainland Europe occurred in Belgium on May 5, 1835. Three British steam locomotives transported 900 passengers from Brussels to Mechelen on a 22-kilometer line. This historic journey launched Belgium's railway system and fueled its 19th-century industrial success.
Inscription:
First train on European Mainland
1835
2020
THE ARROW
THE STEPHENSON
THE ELEPHANT
Mechelen
Brussels
1835
2020
THE ARROW
THE STEPHENSON
THE ELEPHANT
Mechelen
Brussels
Script: Latin
Engraver: Luc Luycx
Edge
Plain
Categories
| Map |
| Transportation> Train |
Mints
| Name | Mark |
|---|---|
| Royal Mint of Belgium | — |
Mintings
| Year | Mint Mark | Mintage | Quality | Collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | — | 5,000 | Proof |
Historical background
In 2020, Belgium's currency situation was firmly anchored within the Eurozone framework, using the euro (€) as its sole legal tender. As a founding member of the European Union and a key participant in the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), Belgium had ceded monetary policy authority to the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt. Therefore, the primary monetary challenges and responses for the year were not national but European, dictated by the ECB's efforts to combat the severe economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. The focus was on ensuring liquidity, stabilizing financial markets, and supporting member states' economies through unprecedented measures.
The year was dominated by the profound economic shock of the pandemic, which triggered a deep recession across the Eurozone. In response, the ECB significantly expanded its asset purchase programs, most notably the Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme (PEPP), initiated in March 2020 with an initial envelope of €750 billion. For Belgium, this meant crucial support for its sovereign debt market, helping to keep government borrowing costs low as the state rolled out extensive fiscal support packages for businesses and households. These national measures, including temporary unemployment schemes and state-guaranteed loans, were funded through increased public borrowing, facilitated by the accommodating monetary policy from Frankfurt.
Domestically, while the currency itself was stable, the economic crisis accelerated existing trends in payment methods. The use of cash transactions declined noticeably due to hygiene concerns and increased online shopping, while contactless and digital payments saw a sharp rise. The National Bank of Belgium, operating under the ECB's umbrella, focused on ensuring the smooth circulation of cash and the stability of the financial system. Overall, Belgium's 2020 currency situation was characterized by a stable euro, deeply integrated European crisis management, and a rapid behavioral shift towards digital payments within the broader context of a severe economic contraction.
The year was dominated by the profound economic shock of the pandemic, which triggered a deep recession across the Eurozone. In response, the ECB significantly expanded its asset purchase programs, most notably the Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme (PEPP), initiated in March 2020 with an initial envelope of €750 billion. For Belgium, this meant crucial support for its sovereign debt market, helping to keep government borrowing costs low as the state rolled out extensive fiscal support packages for businesses and households. These national measures, including temporary unemployment schemes and state-guaranteed loans, were funded through increased public borrowing, facilitated by the accommodating monetary policy from Frankfurt.
Domestically, while the currency itself was stable, the economic crisis accelerated existing trends in payment methods. The use of cash transactions declined noticeably due to hygiene concerns and increased online shopping, while contactless and digital payments saw a sharp rise. The National Bank of Belgium, operating under the ECB's umbrella, focused on ensuring the smooth circulation of cash and the stability of the financial system. Overall, Belgium's 2020 currency situation was characterized by a stable euro, deeply integrated European crisis management, and a rapid behavioral shift towards digital payments within the broader context of a severe economic contraction.
💎 Extremely Rare