50 years ESA – 50 cents in Coincard

Space remains an interesting and amazing subject and in 2025 we will focus on a special milestone. The European Space Agency turns 50! To celebrate this, the Royal Dutch Mint will launch a 50 Cent in Coincard.

About ESA

The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space.

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

ESA has established formal cooperation with other four Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.

ESA has achieved a lot in its first 50 years. The European Space Agency is responsible for making the world’s first-ever landing on a comet, establishing Europe’s independent access to space, launching and flying satellites that monitor climate change and provide vital information for responding to disasters. Besides, ESA has also made profound contributions to humanity’s knowledge about space, by conducting research with space telescopes. ESA also helped exploring Mars and contributed in producing the most detailed map of the Milky Way. All important and impressive achievements!

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions

When it comes to the future, we can expect a lot more from ESA. In the coming years, the space agency will focus on pushing the boundaries of science and technology, to elevate the future of Europe and to improve the life of its citizens through space-based services and programmes. 

Design

Especially for this issue, a 50 Euro Cent is minted, which will not be in circulation. The coin is put in a fittingly designed coincard. On the obverse, you can see a picture of Europe by night. On the reverse, the ESA anniversary logo is visible.