Belgium. Latest Silver Proof Coins Celebrate Milestone Anniversary of University of Leuven

Knowledge has no end, as proven by the longevity and resilience of the Catholic University of Leuven and the Catholic University of Louvain which this year celebrates six centuries since its founding. KU Leuven Katholieke- Universiteit has become one of Europe's oldest universities, the honour of being the oldest university in the Low Countries and the oldest extant Catholic university in the world.  UC Louvain - Universite Catholique also officially became the first French-speaking University in Belgium in 1968.

Founded in 1425 by John IV, Duke of Brabant, it was Pope Martin V who issued a papal bull in December 1425 founding the University in Leuven as a Studium Generale. This university then became institutionally independent of the local ecclesiastical hierarchy. Although the University of Leuven was abolished by decree in October 1797 and as a result of the French Revolutionary War, what remained of the university's movable property and books were requisitioned for the École centrale in Brussels. This was the immediate official and legal successor and inheritor of the old University, under the laws in force at the time.

The first attempt to found a successor university in the nineteenth-century was the secular State University of Leuven in 1817 until 1835 and where many professors of the old University taught. The successor institution received further papal recognition and authorisation in November 1834 with a papal brief in December 1833 from Pope Gregory XVI. This resulted in the private Catholic University of Leuven, founded with the intention of restoring the confessional Catholic pre-Revolutionary traditions of learning, having been returned to Leuven.

The dispute over national linguistic preference and dominance was resolved in June 1968 when the Dutch-language section of the university separated into the independent Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, which remained in Leuven. The French-speaking part of the university, known as the Université catholique de Louvain, was moved to an undeveloped, new campus in Wallonia which was named Louvain-la-Neuve (New Leuven), farther south in the French-speaking part of the Province of Brabant. Since the division, research collaborations and student exchanges between the two sister universities take place with increasing frequency. During 2025, the 600th anniversary will be celebrated by both universities with events, initiatives and many new projects.

The coin is produced by the Royal Dutch Mint at their facilities in Houten, Netherlands in association with the Royal Belgian Mint and is designed by Iris Bruijns. The reverse side depicts the Leuven Sedes sapientiae statue of the Holy Mary holding the young Jesus on her lap and is centred. In the background, the upper circle features the text and motto of the University SEDES SAPIENTIAE ORA PRO NOBIS (Seat of Wisdom, pray for us), closer into the circle is the commemorative text UCLOUVAIN 1425 2025 KU LEUVEN. The lower circle is filled with scientifically inspired linear drawings, focusing on the latest technology offered by the Universities into this and the next century. The obverse side includes an effigy of HM King Philip designed by Royal Belgian Mint artisan Luc Luycx, facing right along with his crowned monogram placed to the right and text surrounding the likeness of the King which reads BELGIE – BELGIQUE – BELGIEN representing the official three languages of Belgium. The denomination 20 EURO is placed below the primary design and the year of issue 2025 is shown in a vertical direction. 

Each coin is encapsulated and presented in a custom case and accompanied with a certificate of authenticity. For additional information, please visit the e-webshop of Herdenkingsmunten / Pieces commemoratives - Collector Coins.