Description : ERASMUS is a backronym for EuRopean Community Action
Scheme for the Mobility of University Students. The ERASMUS exchange programme is aimed at EU citizens who have
been studying at a university for at least one year and supports a three to twelve‐month stay abroad at a university
within the EU, or an internship. In addition, there are master's and doctoral programmes, programmes for young
entrepreneurs, for school education, vocational training and adult education. Internships as well as professional
development measures are financially supported and language courses abroad are also made possible for working people. The
backronym refers to the Dutch philosopher and theologian Erasmus of Rotterdam (∼1466‐1536), described as "the
crowning glory of the Christian humanists", depicted after a painting by Hans Holbein the Younger created in 1523. The
French coin designer Joaquin Jimenez, whose initials "J.J." appear next to Erasmus' pen, has designed as a
background a network of connecting lines between the twelve stars arranged in a circle and symbolising Europe, which is
intended to represent the manifold intellectual and human exchanges between European students. By relieving some partial
areas between the connecting lines, the numbers 3 and 5 emerge, referring to the 35th anniversary of the programme.
In a block of three to four lines of lettering arranged in a quarter circle at the bottom right, the commemorative period
is written as "1987-2022" (the last number also designating the year of issue) below the occasion of issue, followed by
the name of the issuing state, if this does not consist of an abbreviation placed in the centre of the motif.
National characteristics : The quarter circle at the bottom right has four lines; below the commemorative period, the
issue occasion "ERASMUS PROGRAMME" (in English) is written in two lines, below it the issuing country
"ΚΥΠΡΟΣ KIBRIS" (Cyprus, in Greek and Turkish). The coin was produced without mint mark
by the Greek mint Νομισματοκοπειο
/ Nomismatokopeio (Bank of Greece ‐ Mint) in Halandri. |
