Belgium 2 Euro 2018 Esro-2B Proof

May 1968 was an important milestone for European space travel. On May 16, 1968, the first European satellite was successfully brought into orbit around the earth. This was the ESRO-2B. Previous attempts to launch a satellite successfully failed. The ESRO (European Space Research Organisation) was founded in 1964 and later merged into the ESA (European Space Agency). The ESRO-2B satellite had a weight of more than 100 kilos and the purpose of the mission was to get a picture of the magnetic field and the cosmic radiation around the earth. In the year 2018 it will be 50 years since the ESRO-2B Satellite was launched and to commemorate this, Belgium has issued a special 2 Euro coin. On the face of the coin the Esro-2B Satellite is depicted in orbit around the earth. The solar cells are easily recognisable on the outside of the Satellite as is the cross dipole on the bottom of the Satellite. Below the satellite are the letters IRIS (International Radiation Investigation Satellite). At the top of the coin is the name of the satellite ESRO-2B under which are the years 1968 and 2018. At the bottom of the coin are the letters BE, the abbreviation of Belgium. Next to these letters are the mint marks. The highlight of the series of 2018 Belgian 2 Euro Esro-2B coins is, of course, the coin in the quality Proof. A Proof coin cannot be compared to a coin in the UNC or BU quality. The coin is struck with a special stamp and packed with the utmost care in the luxury blue packaging. Naturally, a certificate of authenticity will also be supplied with this special Proof Coin. The circulation of the 2018 Belgian Proof quality 2 Euro æEsro-2BÆ is only 7,500 copies!