Belgium 2 Euro 2018 Esro-2B Silver-Plated

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 successfully launch a satellite 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 in memory of this, Belgium has issued a special 2 Euro coin. On the front of this heavily silver-plated coin the Esro-2B Satellite is depicted in its orbit around the earth. The solar cells on the outside of the satellite and the cross dipole on the bottom of the satellite are clearly shown. Under the satellite are the letters IRIS (International Radiation Investigation Satellite). At the top of this silver coin is the name of the satellite ESRO-2B with the years 1968 and 2018 below. At the bottom of the coin are the letters BE, the abbreviation of Belgium. Next to the letters BE are the mint marks. This heavily silver-plated coin is packaged in a plastic coin capsule.