June 16, 2016 – On May 21, 2016, the Société Royale de Numismatique de Belgique / Koninklijk Belgian Genootschap voor Numismatiek in Brussels celebrated its 175th anniversary with a conference under the title “Belgian Numismatics in Perspective”. Amongst the more than 65 participants were many high-caliber numismatists who came from Germany and abroad.
Peter Spufford spoke about Philip Grierson’s relationship to Belgium. © Photograph: Royal Numismatic Society of Belgium.
In his opening presentation, Peter Spufford talked about the life and work of Philip Grierson.
Three of the four new honorary members attended the event in person: Andrew Burnett, Lucia Travaini, and Christopher Howgego (from l. to r.). © Photograph: François de Callatay.
During the conference four scholars were appointed as honorary members of the Royal Numismatic Society of Belgium: Philipp Attwood, Andrew Burnett, Christopher Howgego, and Luca Travaiani. With the exception of Philipp Attwood, they were present and thus were personally presented with the Society’s Honorary Medal.
With interest the audience listened to the lectures. © Photograph: Royal Numismatic Society of Belgium.
But the Belgians were honored as well. The President of the Royal Numismatic Society of Belgium, Johan van Heesch, received the honorary medals of the French Numismatic Society and the Royal Dutch Numismatic Society.
Michel Amandry presents the Honorary Medal of the French Numismatic Society to Johan van Heesch, President of the Royal Numismatic Society of Belgium. © Photograph: Royal Numismatic Society of Belgium.
The medals were presented by the presidents of the two associations, Michel Amandry and M. Martin Bloemendal.
The Belgian medalist Marit Hartman created a medal on the 175th anniversary of the Royal Numismatic Society of Belgium. © Photo: Royal Numismatic Society of Belgium.
The Belgian medalist Marit Hartman created a medal on the 175th anniversary of the Royal Numismatic Society of Belgium.
This is what a new euro coin on the 175th anniversary of the Royal Numismatic Society looks like. 500 specimens of this 3.11 g coin will be issued by the Royal Belgian Mint.
The Royal Numismatic Society of Belgium has even managed to have a euro coin released on the occasion of its anniversary. With a mintage of 500 pieces, the commemorative coins will soon be issued by the Royal Belgian Mint.
The attendees of the conference. © Photograph: Royal Numismatic Society of Belgium.
A gala dinner concluded the birthday. Cécile Arnoud, Secretary of the Society, remarked enthusiastically that, experiencing this beautiful event, many members were already looking forward to the Society’s bicentenary.
This is the website of the Royal Numismatic Society of Belgium.
A list of its honorary members can be found here.
You can read about about Lucia Travaini in our Who’s Who of numismatics.
And here you can buy the commemorative coin in honor of the Royal Numismatic Society of Belgium.