Belgian Mint to stop making coins from November

Belgium will stop producing its own coins next month, as the Royal Mint prepares to outsource its work, affecting 20 jobs.

The task of making Belgian euro coins has been put out to a Europe-wide public bid, with the winner due to be announced shortly. The Royal Mint currently produces 40 million coins a year.

The last limited-edition set of commemorative coins - a design celebrating 200 years of Ghent university - came off the production line last week.

The last standard set of euro coins will be made in November and the factory will close at Christmas, with staff reassigned elsewhere within the finance ministry.

One of the mint workers told RTL: "We'll be moved around here and there, into the jobs we're not used to. We'll end up in logistics, we'll change lightbulbs or taps. What can I say? I don't know any more than that."

Demand by the National Bank for coins has fallen significantly in recent years, especially the lowest value denominations, due to price-rounding.

Finland is reported to be one of the countries interested in making Belgian coins. It already does so for Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Denmark, Luxembourg and Slovenia. The Royal Dutch Mint is understood to be another contender.