The Official Blister 2006 contains the 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cent coins and 1, 2 euros, as well as the 2 euro commemorative coin featuring the double portrait of Grand Duke Henri and hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume. This is the second coin set in a series of seven that will feature different architectural periods in Luxembourg's history. The periods will correspond to the designs of the euro banknotes, and for 2006 the theme is the Roman Period that is also represented on the 10 euro note.
The coin was issued to mark the 25th birthday of Grand-Duke Guillaume, heir to the throne. The effigy of Grand-Duke Henri is superimposed on that of Grand-Duke Guillaume in the centre of the coin.
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. |