Furry Friend

The Royal Dutch Mint has unveiled the first coin of its newest series, the Fauna of Luxembourg. Produced for the small central European country, the series will highlight native species that require special protection. The first issue, a 5 euro, highlights the garden dormouse, a small rodent with near-threatened conservation status. 

A garden dormouse surrounded by leaves is depicted on the obverse, and its scientific name, ELIOMYS QUERCINUS, appears on the rim with the denomination. The reverse, which is common to all Luxembourg euro coins, features Yvette Gastauer-Claire’s stylized portrait of Grand Duke Henri. 

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A version of this article appears in the April 2024 issue of The Numismatist (money.org).