Luxembourg releases rare gold coin

A new commemorative gold coin stamped with Luxembourg's “Gëlle Fra” statue and the profile of Grand Duke Henri has gone on sale in Luxembourg.

Altogether just 3,000 of the rare coins have been minted and are being circulated by Luxembourg's Central Bank (BCL) as the fifth in a series of coins dedicated to the Grand Duchy's cultural history.

The “Gëlle Fra” or Golden Lady statue, was created by Luxembourg sculptor Claus Cito in 1923 as a war memorial to remember Luxembourgers who died during WWI.

It then became a symbol of resistance when it was dismantled during the Nazi occupation of Luxembourg before it was restored in the 1980s. The statue was recently flown to Shanghai to feature alongside the Luxembourg pavilion at the 2010 World Exhibition.

The portrait of Grand Duke Henri was designed by Luxembourg artist Yvette Gastauer-Claire.

The gold coin carries an entry value of 10 euros but costs 160 euros to purchase from the BCL offices at 43 Avenue Monterey. The coin can be purchased online and shipped by visiting eshop.bcl.lu. Alternatively, place an order by faxing 4774-4994 or emailing coins@bcl.lu