New 2-Euro coin available as of 1 July In 2022 the countries of the EU monetary union celebrate “35 years of the Erasmus programme” with a specially designed 2-Euro coin. Today the Austrian Mint’s general director presented the Federal Minister Martin Polaschek and the State Secretary Claudia Plakolm with the coin in the presence of Jakob Calice, PhD, Managing Director of the OeAD – Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation, and the OeAD Director for the Erasmus+ programme, Mag. Ernst Gesslbauer. As of 1 July the special coins will be legal tender in the whole euro area. The “Erasmus coins”, with motifs adapted to the individual euro countries, will bear the familiar map motif on one side. On the other side there is the interpretation of the painting “Portrait of Erasmus of Rotterdam Writing” (1523) by Hans Holbein the Younger. The background consists of a network of lines representing the intellectual and cultural exchange between students of different nations. Partially elevated spots in the network show the figure “35”, which refers to the number of years that the Erasmus programme has been in place. Minister of Education, Science and Research Martin Polaschek: “A special euro commemorative coin and a euro coin set “Erasmus Programme” to mark the programme’s 35th anniversary in Europe once more bring this important education programme before the curtain. Erasmus+ is one of the most popular EU funding programmes and Austria has been part of it for 30 years now, since 1992 – 350,000 Austrians have been able to discover Europe, gain experience and make friends for life. I am particularly happy that Erasmus+ is now increasingly accessible to pupils and apprentices. Thus, in addition to students, the target group for this project has been expanded and makes this European experience possible already while still at school or during an apprenticeship. New perspectives, new horizons – this is the motto of the new programme period and thus by the end of the new programme period in 2027 around 330,000 more people from all areas of education throughout Europe are to have gained experience abroad.” State Secretary for Youth Claudia Plakolm: “Erasmus+ is the perfect opportunity for young people to meet like-minded people from other countries, exchange ideas and feel what it means to be part of the European Union. This sense of community is essential for peace within the countries of the EU and therefore more important than ever. I would like to invite every young person in Austria to take part in the many different Erasmus+ projects in the anniversary year.” Only 1 million Austrian 2-Euro coins “35 Years Erasmus Programme” will be issued. What is the best way to get the coin? For private individuals these coins are available at face value in rolls of 25 units directly from the Austrian Mint. Many people check the money in their wallets. Not only for reasons of thrift but also because rare motifs on the coins are coveted and invite people to collect them. In particular the group of 2-Euro enthusiasts is large in many countries and there are numerous websites and forums where collectors engage in lively exchange. After all, this offers the opportunity to discover, collect and exchange unusual coins in daily life – for example in the way of change – without a surcharge. Some of these coins are now in great demand and are traded at higher collector's values. It is therefore worthwhile to check the contents of your wallet at regular intervals. Who was this Erasmus after whom an EU funding programme was named?Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam, who died in Basel almost half a millennium ago, is still regarded today as an important humanist, philologist, church critic and as a pioneer of the Enlightenment. He was a Renaissance cosmopolitan, who worked in many European countries. In 1509 he wrote his most famous work “In Praise of Folly”. It says that people ask for deliverance from all kinds of hardships but not for deliverance from folly. In this satirical work, which is part of world literature, Erasmus focuses on the many facets of human foolishness. Counteracting this is also the task of the Erasmus programme: adopted by the European Council of Ministers in 1987, it enables stays abroad for students, pupils, apprentices, teachers and many more and promotes European and global cooperation. The programme generation 2021 to 2027 focuses on digital transformation and combating climate change and also places special emphasis on inclusion. Jakob Calice, OeAD Managing Director: “Before Erasmus+ there were many predecessor programmes which, merged into Erasmus+, have become a very powerful programme. The namesake Erasmus of Rotterdam is well chosen – the humanist lived and worked in many European countries. As the national agency for the implementation of this great education and youth programme of the EU it is very important to the OeAD that as many people as possible should know about this programme and its benefits. We would like to thank everyone who supports us in promoting it!” To the Austrian Mint’s OTS press release Enquiries and Contact: OeAD – Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation Mag. Ursula Hilmar +43 1 53408-270 presse@oead.at www.oead.at www.erasmusplus.at Austrian Mint (Münze Österreich AG) Mag. Andrea Lang Am Heumarkt 1 1030 Wien Tel. +436649629821 andrea.lang@muenzeoesterreich.at