The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is one of the few states in Europe that have managed to preserve the form of government of the Middle Ages to date. The small, seventh largest state in Europe, over the past 14 centuries, due to its inability to have a strong army, despite the declared neutrality, was influenced by neighboring states: Austria, France, Spain, Prussia... In this regard, "their" metal money first appeared in Luxembourg in the middle of the XVIII century. These were copper liards with the profile of Maria Theresa.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the states of Western Europe, including Luxembourg, submitted to the Napoleonic army one after another and their economy switched to the French franc. In 1815, the Dutch guilder became the currency of Luxembourg, in connection with the entry of the Grand Duchy into the Netherlands. In 1839, according to the London Treaty, the French-speaking western part of the duchy became part of Belgium and the Belgian franc became the currency of Luxembourg. In 1842, Luxembourg became a member of the Customs Union, and for 6 years the Prussian thaler was the state currency.
In 1848, under the influence of the French Revolution, King Willem II of the Netherlands granted the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg a liberal constitution, which marked the beginning of the formation of the independence of the state, the acquisition of which by Luxembourg occurred only in 1866 . However, already in 1854, Luxembourg organized the issue of its own francs, tied to the Belgian franc in a ratio of 1:1 (1 franc=100 centimes). Coins were issued by the Utrecht (Netherlands) and Paris (France) mints.
KM # 22, 5 centimes 1870, bronze, 304 thousand copies, years of production 1854-1870
KM # 23, 10 centimes 1855, bronze, 1.2 million ex. years of production 1854-1870
In 1865, Luxembourg entered the Latin Monetary Union. At the same time, the monetary foot adopted in the monetary union was not issued by Luxembourg. Membership in the Latin Monetary Union for the Grand Duchy ended in 1926.
In 1890, King Willem II of the Netherlands dies without a male heir. Wilhelmina becomes the Queen of the Netherlands, who, according to the Salic law, could not be a ruler in Luxembourg. Adolf, the former ruler of the German Duchy of Nassau, annexed by Prussia in 1866 and by that time part of the German Empire, becomes the Grand Duke of Luxembourg.
Grand Duke of Luxembourg Adolf of Nassau (years of life 1817-1905, years of reign 1890-1905).
In addition to the face value of 2 ½ centimes, in 1901 coins in denominations of 5 and 10 centimes were also issued.
KM # 21, 2 ½ centime 1901, bronze, 800 thousand exes, years of production 1854-1908
KM # 24, 5 centimes 1901, copper-nickel alloy, 2 million equivalent, single year of manufacture
KM # 25, 10 centimes 1901, copper-nickel alloy, 4 million equivalent, single year of manufacture
After the death of 88-year-old Adolf in 1905, his eldest son William IV ascended the Luxembourg throne.
Grand Duke William IV of Luxembourg (life years 1852-1912, reign years 1905-1912)
The duke did not rule for long and issued even fewer coins than his father. In addition to the "traditional" face value of 2 ½ centimes, only one coin was issued - 5 centimes on copper-nickel billets.
KM # 26, 5 centimes 1908, copper-nickel alloy, 1.5 million equivalent, single year of manufacture
Since William did not have sons, he was forced back in 1907 to declare his daughter Adelaide the heir to the throne, who in 1912 became the first female ruler of Luxembourg in history.
Grand Duchess of Luxembourg Adelaide (life years 1894-1924, reign 1912-1919)
The outbreak of World War I did not pass by Luxembourg either. Contrary to the patriotic sentiments of the government and her own people, the Grand Duchess was quite loyal to the German invaders, which is why she had to abdicate in 1919 in favor of her younger sister, Charlotte.
The line of coins from the period of German occupation is presented in the corresponding review.
Post-war coin issues took place in 1918-1919. Denominations of 5, 10 and 25 centimes were first issued on iron blanks. As in the rest of post-war Europe, iron turned out to be the most affordable material for issuing coins.
KM # 30, 5 centimes 1918, iron, 1.2 million copies, years of production 1918-1922
KM # 31, 10 centimes 1918, iron, 1.6 million copies, years of production 1918-1923
KM # 32, 25 centimes 1922, iron, 600 thousand copies, years of production 1919-1922
Coins of this type were issued until 1923. As mentioned above, the ruler of Luxembourg by that time was already the Grand Duchess Charlotte
Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg (life years 1896-1985, reign years 1919-1964)
In 1918, the German Customs Union broke up and in 1921 the Belgian-Luxembourg Economic Union was formed, the Belgian franc became the single currency. At the same time, the Luxembourg franc continued to be issued in limited editions (no more than 25 million francs annually).
In 1924, a line of coins was issued, consisting of 5, 10 centimes, 1 and 2 francs.
KM # 33, 5 centimes 1924, copper-nickel alloy, 3 million equivalent, only year of production
KM # 34, 10 centimes 1924, copper-nickel alloy, 3.5 million equivalent, only year of production
KM # 35, 1 franc 1928, nickel, 2 million ex. years 1924, 1928, 1935
KM # 36, 2 francs 1924, nickel, 1 million ecz, single year of manufacture
On the reverse of coins in denominations of 1 and 2 francs, the figure of a steelworker first appears, which symbolizes the main direction in the industry of Luxembourg at that time. Until mid-1990, ferrous metallurgy played a major role in the state economy. This was facilitated by the richest iron ore deposits in the Lorraine basin near the southern borders of Luxembourg and the largest steel concern ARBED, founded in 1911.
In 1927, the line of negotiable coins was supplemented with 25 centimes.
KM # 37, 25 centime 1927, copper-nickel alloy, 2.5 million ex. only year of production
In 1929, for the first time since the 18th century, Luxembourg issued its own silver coins - 5 and 10 francs. The obverse depicts the profile of the Grand Duchess Charlotte, on the reverse - a knight's helmet and the coat of arms of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
KM # 38, 5 Francs, Silver 0.625, 2 M Ex., Single Year of Manufacture
KM # 39, 10 Francs, Silver 0.750, 1 M Ex., Single Year of Manufacture
In 1930, small coins were reissued on bronze blanks.
KM # 40, 5 centimes 1930, bronze, 5 million copies, only year of production
KM # 41, 10 centimes 1930, bronze, 5 million copies, only year of production
KM # 42, 25 centimes 1930, bronze, 1 million copies, only year of production
A new denomination also appears - 50 centimes
KM # 43, 50 centimes 1930, nickel, 2 million equivalent, single year of manufacture
Both currencies of the Belgian-Luxembourg Economic Union had equivalent mutual circulation within both Luxembourg and Belgium until 1935, when the exchange rate was revised and 1 Luxembourg franc became equal to 1 ¼ Belgian franc. The reason that initiated the revision of the exchange rate was the significantly increased difference in linking each of the francs to other world currencies .
In 1938, 25 centimes without changing the design of the 1930 sample was produced on copper-nickel blanks. There are coin variants of this issue with a medal and coin aspect ratio.
KM # 42a, 25 centimes 1938, copper-nickel alloy, 2 million equivalent, single year of manufacture
In 1939, the last pre-war coin was issued - 1 franc. On the reverse of the coin, the steelworker was replaced by the figure of the reaper .
KM # 44, 1 franc 1939, copper-nickel alloy, 5 million equivalent, single year of manufacture
A distinctive feature of this coin is the unusual name of the state LETZEBURG. Prior to this, the name on the coins was indicated in French LUXEMBOURG.
In May 1940, after the occupation of Luxembourg by Nazi Germany, the course of the Luxembourg franc was re-tied to the German Reichsmark (4 francs=1 Reichsmark). Since July 1940, the exchange rate has changed (10 francs=1 Reichsmark) , and since August 1940, the Reichsmark has become legal tender, along with the Luxembourg franc. In January 1941, the circulation of the franc was stopped and the Reichsmark became the only legal tender in Luxembourg.
Shortly before the occupation, Charlotte left the country and received asylum in London. The Duchess returned to Luxembourg after her liberation in 1945, where she continued in power until 1964.
From 2002 to the present, Luxembourg is part of the eurozone.