Belgian Munt to close in 2010?

[Bimat]

It would be interesting to see Belgian Euro coins with mint marks/privy marks of Pessac mint.But the reason they have given does not seem to be valid.. There must be some other reasons too.
That means 2009 issue by Belgium will be the last one.I hope it does not become rare  in few months after it is issued

Aditya

[bart]

I have the impression nobody knows if the closing of the Belgian Royal Mint is definitive. Even when the news came in the papers last September, it was not confirmed by Didier Reynders, Minister of Finance. This is for sure a political decision and since then the credit crisis shook Europe, leading to the fall of the Belgian government - Leterme. A new government has been formed under the new Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy, leaving Didier Reynders in place as Minister of Finance. There still is a slight difference: Didier Reynders lies direct in the fire line as one of the 3 responsible ministers leading to the fall of the former government. He is also the only of those 3 who is still in function (the other 2 being former Prime Minister Leterme and former Minister of Justice Vandeurzen) and the eyes of the entire nation rest upon him. Result: he doesn't act anymore and is only trying to keep his function.

I have the impression the closing of the Royal Mint of Belgium is not one of his most important decisions. I don't know if he already made the decision last September, but it is the kind of decision which can easily be turned back by a next government (and, as I explained, we already have a next government. It is also extremely difficult to explain the ways in which Belgian politicians act).
That's IMHO also the reason Mr. Coenen speaks about his successor as being a temporary mintmaster: they don't know for certain what will happen: will the Mint close? Or not?

Bart

[chrisild]

Sounds plausible to me. (Now ministers who do not really act any more, only trying to keep their functions, that is something we do not have in Germany. Not at all. Never. ) Maybe the question of how much money could possibly be saved by closing the mint in Brussels does indeed play a minor role in the current economic situation ...

Christian

[Bimat]

Sounds plausible to me. (Now ministers who do not really act any more, only trying to keep their functions, that is something we do not have in Germany. Not at all. Never. ) Maybe the question of how much money could possibly be saved by closing the mint in Brussels does indeed play a minor role in the current economic situation ...

Christian

I agree.They can restrict the mintage of the coins to a limited value so that the loss is minimized (Since they think that it is not a profitable job).The mint is part of its history-You can't just close the mint because you can't run it.

Aditya

[a3v1]

In Belgium, Didier Reynders is regarded as the "blunderer superior" of Belgian politics. It was his decision to sell off the Mint buildings and subsequently rent them back. Ever since, Belgian Mint has attempted to make a profit, or, at least, reach the break-even point. This all has been in vain.
Now, Didier Reynders keeps on saying "No Problem" but my contacts within the Belgian Mint still are expecting to be unemployed by Jan.1, 2010.
Regards,
a3v1 

[Figleaf]

King Albert against moving his euro to China

King Albert is quite worried about the closure of the Royal Mint in Brussels next year. Indeed, that would mean that his portrait would soon be struck abroad, maybe even in China. The king made a visit to the Royal Mint this week and asked minister of Finance Reynders to explain himself, though the minster said he would for the time being not take any initiative. During the king's visit, some members of the staff wore black armbands to protest the closure. (belga/vsv)

Source: HLN

[BC Numismatics]

Peter,
  I can guess that photo is depicting King Albert II's equivilant of Queen Victoria's "We are not amused.".

Aidan.

[chrisild]

Thanks for the article, Peter. Must confess that, when I clicked the link and saw the web page, I first wasn't sure how serious HLN is as a source. Then I searched a little and found this: http://www.nieuwsblad.be/Article/Detail.aspx?ArticleID=G9H29V3PA

So, still no decision yet ... It would of course be sad to see a mint "go". But the references to India and even China sound somewhat (too?) dramatic in my opinion. Or take this comment: "Stel u voor dat een van die landen (countries with low wages, C.) onze munten gaat maken en er daarna een conflict ontstaat met dat land. De gevolgen daarvan zijn nauwelijks te overzien.' " Well, Belgium would not be the first country, not even the first euro country, that has its coins produced elsewhere.

Christian

[Figleaf]

Do you mean to say that politicians may exaggerate? Shocking!

Aidan: the king doesn't have a stiff upper lip, but compensates that with a flabby chin.

Peter

[BC Numismatics]

Peter,
  There's one thing that politicians are best known for - being a bunch of liars & crooks!

Yes,we have them over here in New Zealand.

Aidan.

[chrisild]

So the comments from the readers (at the HLN site) all come from politicians? I am equally shocked. Or worse.

If modernizing the mint in Brussels is actually too expensive, the coins can be made in ... well, judging from where the Luxembourg pieces are minted, I'd say Utrecht, Pessac or Vantaa.

Christian

[chrisild]

We still do not know for sure what the future brings for the Belgian Mint. However, its new mintmaster Serge Lesens has just started using his new privy mark - a feather or quill. (See the attached image.) It appeared for the first time on the recently issued "Father Damian" collector coin.

More about Belgian privy marks in the current issue of the mint magazine:
(Dutch) http://europemint.eu/documents/MUNTINFO/muntinfo51.pdf
(French) http://europemint.eu/documents/MUNTINFO/muntinfo51fr.pdf

Christian

[Prosit]

I hate being a dirty ole man but a leaf isn't what it looks like to me.

Dale

Poor design

[translateltd]

I hate being a dirty ole man but a leaf isn't what it looks like to me.

Dale

Poor design

Hmmm, yes, I see what you mean.  There was a similar symbol on Danish coins a few years back which one of our Danish colleagues (Figleaf will remember who I mean) pointed out as being a likely candidate for misinterpretation.

[bart]

There still is no decision about the possible closing of the Belgian Mint. It is mentioned in the article about Serge Lesens: he is appointed as "waarnemend muntmeester", which means acting mintmaster istead of being a "full" mintmaster.

bart