30 years of the fall of the Berlin Wall

Description (ECB)

Thirty years ago, the Berlin Wall fell. Beyond the impact on German society, it was an event with global consequences. On November 9th, 1989, this occasion marks the end of the cold war and announces an appeasement after several decades of international tensions. At the European level, it is the first step towards the reunification of one of the leading countries of the European Union. This major change was after materialised by the Moscow Treaty of which France was a signatory. The European Union welcomed then 16 million new citizens in just one year; almost the structural and economic effect of welcoming a new country! The design represents the Berlin Wall, opened in its centre, letting the doves (allegories of the international appeasement), and the jubilant crowd pass. In the background, the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin’s symbol par excellence, is represented. The mention ‘30 ans de la chute du Mur de Berlin/30 Jahre Mauerfall’ is inscribed on one side of the wall. At the bottom of the design is the year of issuance ‘2019’ and at its right the indication of the issuing country ‘RF’ (standing for République française). The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.

Source: European Central Bank, €2 commemorative coin pages. Texts quoted as published. ECB 2019

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