Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 2 Euro 2011, KM# 308, Belgium, Albert II, 100th Anniversary of the International Women's Day
  • 2 Euro 2011, KM# 308, Belgium, Albert II, 100th Anniversary of the International Women's Day
Description

International Women's Day (IWD), originally called International Working Women's Day, is celebrated on March 8 every year. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women for their economic, political and social achievements. In some regions, the day lost its political flavor and became simply an occasion for people to express their love for women in a way somewhat similar to a mixture of Mother's Day and Valentine's Day. In other regions however, the political and human rights theme designated by the United Nations runs strong political and social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide are brought out and examined in a hopeful manner. Some people celebrate the day by wearing purple ribbons.

The earliest celebration was held as a Socialist political event in 1909 in New York City. Declared a national holiday in the Soviet Union in 1917, it spread to other nearby countries.

Obverse

Depicts the effigies of Isala Van Diest, the first female Belgian doctor, and Marie Popelin, the first female Belgian lawyer. Their names are written under the effigies, separated by the year mark, and above the inscriptions are the symbols of their respective professions (the Rod of Asclepius and the Scales of Justice). The indication of the country (BE) above, surrounded by the mintmark and the privy mark of the mint's director. The outer ring contains the twelve stars of the European Union.

Royal Belgian Mint:
• Mintmark: Head of Archangel Michael (Saint-Patron of Brussels)
• Director's privy mark: Quill (Serge Lesens)

BE
I.VAN DIEST 2011 M.POPELIN

Reverse

A geographical map of Western Europe spans the outer ring and inner core on the right side of the coin. The inscription 2 EURO is superimposed over the map of Europe, with the numeral “2” located in an open field representing the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

12 stars are located on the right side of the outer ring, with six stars atop the map of Europe and six stars below it; six vertical stripes cut across the inner core of the coin, visually connecting the upper and lower star segments.

Luc Luycx, a designer at the Royal Belgian Mint, designed the Euro’s common reverse; his initials, LL, are seen on the right side of the design, just under the “O” in “EURO.”

2 EURO
LL

Edge

The sequence "2 ★ ★" repeated six times alternately upright and inverted

2 ★ ★ 2 ★ ★ 2 ★ ★ 2 ★ ★ 2 ★ ★ 2 ★ ★

2 Euro

100th Anniversary of the International Women's Day

KM# 308 Schön# 281 LA# BEM-8.11
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Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Bi-Metallic
Ring Cupronickel
Center Nickel Brass
Weight 8.5 g
Diameter 25.75 mm
Thickness 2.2 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Brussels Mint

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