Luxembourg currency then and now

Luxembourg's first currencies

Many of us have heard of the Luxembourg franc, which preceded the euro, but what came before? Let's take a quick look at the history of currencies in Luxembourg, right up to the Luxembourg franc.

First currencies

Luxembourg has been a place of monetary exchange since ancient times. Even before the formation of the first empires and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, coins were in circulation during the late Celtic period. Archaeological excavations at Titelberg, in the south of Luxembourg, have revealed small coins used as early as the first century BC.

Spanish rule

In the 16th century, Luxembourg was under the control of the Spanish Empire. The Spanish kings, who were also Dukes of Luxembourg, issued coins in the capital. In 1578, Philip II issued coins like the magnifique écu, the demi-ducaton, and the cinquième de ducaton.

Austrich rule

During the rule of the Archdukes of Austria, Albert and Isabella, coins like the patagon demi et quart were minted, along with escalins (6 sous), coins of three sous, one sou, and one liard. During Philip IV's reign, you'll also find gold coins, patagons, half-patagons, escalins, and sous in circulation.

The Habsburg Monarchy

From 1757 to 1792, the Habsburg monarchy issued copper and silver coins in denominations of ⅛, ¼, ½, 1, 3, 6, 12, and 72 sous. They also made copper half, one, and two liard coins.

The Revolution and Napoleon campaigns

During the French Revolution and the Napoleonic period, the germinal franc, which was introduced in 1803, was used until 1825. It made daily transactions easier thanks to its decimal division.

19th Century: Florin and Thaler

After the First French Empire fell apart in 1815, Luxembourg used the Dutch monetary system with the silver florin for a while. During the Belgian Revolution of 1831, both the Dutch guilder and the Belgian franc were used. In 1842, Luxembourg joined the Zollverein and started using the thaler as its main currency, even though the Belgian franc was still used as a unit of account.

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What was the Luxembourg franc and how much was it worth?

We have seen so far that there have been many coins in Luxembourg, but when did the Luxembourg franc appear, how long did it circulate and how much was it worth?

Euro in Luxembourg

As of January 1, 2002, the euro has been the official currency of Luxembourg, replacing the Luxembourg franc. As a member of the euro zone, Luxembourg uses the euro as its currency, contributing to the European monetary union. The euro's introduction was a big step forward for the country's economic integration with the EU. It's helped keep things stable and made it easier to do business across borders.

The euro coins used in Luxembourg are the same as those used in the rest of the euro zone, but Luxembourg coins have their own distinctive features on the back of the coin. There are eight different euro coins in circulation. There are 1 centime, 2 centimes, 5 centimes, 10 centimes, 20 centimes, 50 centimes, 1 euro, and 2 euros. The national sides of these coins, including those of Luxembourg, have their own particular designs.

The commemorative coins

While euro coins are standard across the euro zone, each Member State can choose to mint commemorative coins. Luxembourg commemorative coins are known for featuring national motifs. The other side of commemorative coins might show portraits of historical figures, coats of arms, or important events.

These coins are designed to be instantly recognizable as being from Luxembourg. They add a unique touch to the euro coinage while still meeting the standards of the euro currency.

Here are just a few of them, although there are many more. You can find the full list on the Banque centrale du Luxembourg website.

2005

Grand Duke Henri's 50th birthday

2007

Grand Duke Henri and Grand Ducal Palace

2010

Armorial bearings of the Grand Duke

2013

National anthem of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

2015

125th anniversary of the Nassau-Weilburg dynastyg

2018

175th anniversary of the death of Grand Duke Wilhelm 1st

2020

Birth of Prince Charles

2024

100 years of Luxembourg Francs

How to exchange euros in Luxembourg

If you're traveling to Luxembourg from another country, you probably have some questions about where to exchange currency. A lot of tourists are used to travelling with a certain amount of money that they plan to exchange when they get to their destination. However, this might not be the best approach in Luxembourg.

Unlike other tourist destinations, Luxembourg have few currency exchange offices. It is therefore advisable to plan ahead and explore other options for managing your money during your stay, such as card payments, ATM withdrawals and the use of modern online banks.

Card payments and ATM withdrawals

Online banking and special offers