A 20 Euro coin, minted to commemorate St. Damien's canonization, will go on sale today.

About 300 of the collectors' coins will be sold for $75 each at the 46th annual Hawaii State Numismatic Association's coin show at the Hawai'i Convention Center, which runs through Sunday.

The Royal Belgian Mint minted 15,000 of the coins. At least 10,000 of the coins will be sold in Belgium.

The Royal Belgian Mint created the coin to celebrate the canonization of its native son, Father Damien de Veuster. Damien ministered to Hansen's disease patients in Kalaupapa, Moloka'i, until his death from the disease in 1889. He was elevated to sainthood on Oct. 11 by Pope Benedict XVI.

Though it is legal tender, the coin will likely largely be purchased by collectors.

Vince Vento, owner of Ali'i Coin and Currency, will be selling the coins today.

He said he expects high interest in the coins, and is limiting sales to one per collector.

"I think they're going to sell rapidly," he said.

The coin depicts Saint Damien with the words "Tremelo," his birthplace, and Moloka'i.

Reach Mary Vorsino at 754-8286.

Correction: The 20 euro coin minted in Belgium to commemorate St. Damien's canonization went on sale today in Hawai'i. The date was wrong in a previous version of this story.

Reach Mary Vorsino at mvorsino@honoluluadvertiser.com.