The 2009 BU set from Luxembourg contains the 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cent coins and 1, 2 euros (unc), as well as both 2 euro commemorative coins issued in 2009, dedicated to the “Grand Duchess Charlotte” and to the “10th anniversary of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)”. The set contains information about architecture in the Baroque style in Luxemburg.
Luxembourg euro coins feature three different designs, though they all contain the portrait or effigy of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg. The Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg appears on the coins facing to the left. He was not featured on the Luxembourgish franc as he only became Grand Duke in 2000 following the abdication of his father, Jean. Jean's portrait on the francs showed him facing to the right and it is common in a number of countries for successive monarchs to alternate the direction they faced on coins. Other euro coins issued by member states which are monarchies show their monarchs facing to the left, in common with the effigy on their legacy currencies.
The designs, by Yvette Gastauer-Claire, also contain the 12 stars of the EU flag, the year of imprint and the name of the country in the Luxembourgish language: Letzebuerg.
Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg was the second daughter of William IV, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and his wife Marie Anne of Portugal. She was Grand Duchess of Luxembourg from 1919 to 1964. Unlike her sister, she chose not to meddle with its politics. In a referendum about the new constitution on 28 September 1919, 77.8% of the Luxembourgish people voted for the continuation of a Grand Ducal monarchy with Charlotte as head of state. |