The Royal Mint of Belgium, which is located in Bruxelles, Belgium, will cease operations by the new year.
According to an announcement from the mint earlier this year, the Royal Mint of Belgium will no longer manufacture Belgian circulation coins as of Jan. 1, 2018, at which time the production and commercialization of commemorative coins will also cease.
According to a French news report, the mint’s production staff had diminished to fewer than 10 people among a staff of nearly 50 people.
SELLING ITS STOCK
Last week, the mint launched “MintInfo 73,” its catalogue for September 2017. This began the sale of its final offering of new coins as well as its remaining stock, both of which are being offered exclusively online.
Today, mint officials will present the new two-euro coin, “200 years Ghent University,” which celebrates the bicentennial of the University of Ghent, founded in 1817 under the reign of King William I.
Tomorrow, the mint will begin delivering orders to its customers.
On Oct. 4-6, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., the mint will offer visitors an opportunity to buy the newly issued coins as well as the stock products at its headquarters on Boulevard Pachéco 32, 1000 Brussels.
By Oct. 25, the web shop at europemint.eu will close and no further sales will be accepted.
CONTRACT TO BE SOLD
The contract to manufacture Belgian circulation coins will be assigned through a bidding process while the mint’s machinery will be sold (although the mint’s building, which dates to 1969, will not be sold).
Belgium’s circulation coins are distributed by the National Bank of Belgium, which will continue its distribution role; however, it’s uncertain where these coins will be struck.