比利時發行2.5歐元滑鐵盧紀念幣 法國很無奈!

Belgium's new Waterloo coin

比利時新滑鐵盧硬幣

Belgium was forced to abandon the idea of issuing a two-euro commemorative coin marking the bicentennial of the Battle of Waterloo after France objected to the move in March.

今年3月，因法國反對，比利時不得不放棄了鑄造2歐元硬幣紀念滑鐵盧之戰200週年的計劃，不過比利時還是找到了發行滑鐵盧紀念硬幣的辦法。

But Belgium has come up with a way to get its Waterloo euro coins after all.

本週，比利時決定援引一條鮮爲人知的歐盟規定，從而繞開法國的阻撓。

This week, Belgium decided to circumvent French resistance by invoking a little-known European Union rule that allows countries to issue euro coins of their choice, provided they are in an irregular denomination.

根據這條規定，歐盟成員國可自行選擇發行歐元硬幣，只要面值不常見即可。

That led to the unveiling of a EUR2.50 coin - a first in Belgium - and 70,000 of them have now been minted.

於是，比利時推出了面值爲2.5歐元的硬幣——這在比利時歷史上是頭一遭——並已鑄造了7萬枚。

The coins can only be spent inside Belgium.

這些硬幣只能在比利時境內使用。