Belgium 2 Euro 2024 EU Presidency BU

The image represents a flock of birds (swallows), symbolizing the way the EU functions, acting together as a group but with each member able to act individually, thus forming a complex, dynamic entity. Therefore, the flock symbolizes above all unity. During their migrations, one of the swallows always takes the lead and guides the flock, and in the first half of 2024 this will be Belgium. The 27 birds also symbolize the total number of EU member states. The country code 'BE' is placed among the birds in the upper right part of the image. In the lower half, in the free space below the flock of birds, is the inscription 'BELGIAN PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EU 2024'. On the far left are the initials of the designer Iris Bruijns. Since the coins will be minted at the Royal Dutch Mint, the Utrecht mint mark – the staff of Mercury – is placed on the far left together with the mark of the director of the Belgian mint – the aster before an Erlenmeyer flask. The outer ring of the coin depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.