France takes revenge for the 'Battle of Waterloo'

France takes revenge for the ‘Battle of Waterloo’ with the rejection of the creation of a commemorative coin.

So two hundred years after Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, France wins a small victory by preventing the creation of a commemorative coin marking an event that shaped Europe’s current borders.

After France’s refusal, it is now Belgium’s turn to reject the proposal to strike new €2 coins to celebrate the victory over Napoleon.

Belgium thus rejected the proposal to strike a special €2 coin in honour of Napoleon’s adversaries’ victory on 18 June 1815, bearing the ‘Lion’s Mound’, a monument erected on the battlefield. But glorifying a period of conflict could create unnecessary tensions in a context of European construction. Indeed, putting into circulation coins with negative symbolism appears detrimental and calls into question the capacity of eurozone member state governments to strengthen unity and cooperation around the single currency.

Belgium, which emerged from Dutch domination only a decade after Napoleon’s death, is preparing to celebrate Waterloo during a weekend of festivities and re-enactment of one of the most decisive battles in history. Numerous visitors are expected on the battlefield near Brussels, where infrastructure is being renovated.

The Royal Mint of Belgium has nevertheless launched a £5 coin showing the victors of Waterloo: the Duke of Wellington and Prussian Marshal Gebhard von Blücher.

As a reminder, the 19 euro zone member countries use their own national designs on one face of the coins. They can also strike special editions for €2 coins, but the designs must be approved in advance.

France had already struck a commemorative €2 coin to mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy ending Nazi hegemony in Germany.

Furthermore, Paris stated that ‘the Battle of Waterloo is an event whose particular resonance in the collective consciousness goes beyond the mere evocation of a military conflict.’

Collectors looking to obtain Waterloo souvenirs will therefore find it easier to find what they are looking for in Great Britain than in the other eurozone countries.