By Serge Pelletier, World Coin News March 15, 2010

Monnaie de Paris, the French Mint, recently revealed its plans for 2010, which will continue on the logic it introduced to its issues in 2009.

When Christophe Beaux was placed at the helm of the French institution by newly elected French president Nicolas Sarkozy in April 2007, the centuries-old organization was in difficulties and had a somewhat confusing approach.

Indeed, Monnaie de Paris was issuing silver 1/4-euro coins that were 30 mm in diameter and weighed 13.0 grams, silver 1-1/2-euro coins 37 mm in diameter and weighing 22.2 grams, 20-euro coins that contained 5 ounces of silver, 10-, 20-, and 50-euro coins that contained respectively 1/4, 1/2 and 1 ounces of gold. While these denominations sound aloof, they were somewhat logical in that they were meant to replace the franc denominations used on coins at the time (e.g. 1/4 euro for 1 franc and 1-1/2 euro for 10 francs) since the euro was worth a bit over 6.5 francs. But, seven years after the introduction of the euro, that logic was fading considerably. Other European nations had moved on and were issuing 10- and 20-euro pieces.

Beaux felt it was time to move on as well. Not a collector himself, he failed to understand the Mint’s approach to collector coins. Collectors actually agreed with him. Well, that is what their declining purchases were saying.



Circulating Coinage

The changes started in 2008. In a bold move, Beaux brought circulating precious-metal coins back to France with a line called the “Gold and Silver Euros.” This line would see eight denominations issued in silver and gold over a three-year period, and the pieces would be available at face value and would be legal tender (within France only, in accordance with the European Central Bank rules). In the first year, 2008, silver 5- and 15-euro coins and a gold 100-euro coin were issued. The following year, 2009, saw the issue of silver 10- and 25-euro coins and a gold 250 euro. The program concludes this year with the issue of a silver 50 euro and a gold 500 euro.

These pieces were so successful that 2009-dated 100-euro coins were struck, and 2010-dated ones will also be struck. And now there will be more.

A second collection of silver pieces available at face value will be launched in September 2010: the “Euros of the Regions.” A 10-euro coin will be dedicated to each of the 26 regions of France (22 metropolitan and 4 overseas), and all will be issued at once. The obverse of each coin will show a cartographic representation of the region along with its flag. The reverse will be the same as the 10-euro piece issued in 2009. Like its predecessor, each coin with be struck from .900 silver, will be 29 mm in diameter and will weigh 12.0 grams. These regional coins will be available at face value through the local post office, but only the piece of that specific region. The entire series will be available through the Monnaie de Paris. A total of 2 million pieces will be struck for all designs combined. The exact mintage figure for each region is not yet been determined, but the size of the region will be factored in. A 27th region will be created in 2011 and a coin will be struck for it at that time. These pieces may be restruck until 2012 (with an adjusted date).

The other new circulating coin on the program is a commemorative 2 euro that marks the 70th anniversary of General de Gaulle’s June 18, 1940, appeal to the people of France. Made from London on the BBC, de Gaulle’s first speech called upon all French to fight alongside the British allies against the German occupation. The text of the appeal was printed in all French newspapers the following day and has become the symbol of French resistance during World War II. The obverse shows de Gaulle reading the speech in front of a radio microphone. According to the European Central Bank regulations, all euro coin issuing countries may strike a circulating commemorative 2-euro piece a year, even on years when a joint commemorative issue is struck, such as last year with the 10th anniversary of the euro piece. However, the Bank of France will not allow more than one commemorative piece struck per year. These 2-euro coins are legal tender throughout the eurozone, but very few circulate outside the issuing country.



Collector Coins

The 2010 collector coin program continues along the lines of the restructure instituted in 2008, that is pieces issued along seven “coin families”: Numismatics, Europe, History, Geography, Art & Culture, Youth, and Sport. On the other hand, the number of themes composing these families has again been reduced, to 12 in 2010 instead of 15 in 2009 and 30 in 2007. The coherence of each family becomes even more apparent from within each of them: all of the themes maintain this coherence and extend series that were started in previous years.

In addition, the Monnaie de Paris introduces some “hoarding pieces” for those who would like to invest in bullion with flair. These include two 1-kg and two 10-ounce gold coins.

Let us now look at these pieces and a few of the 2010 innovations.

The first 1-kg coin is in the Geography family and part of the UNESCO theme. After honoring the Great Wall of China in 2007, the Grand Canyon in 2008 and the Kremlin in 2009, the 2010 piece celebrates the Taj Mahal. Classified as one of the seven new wonders of the world, it is a white marble monument built by the Mughal emperor Shâh Jahân in the 17th century. The best architects designed this joyous building, which was built by the most skilled workers and artisans from Persia, Europe and the Ottoman Empire.

The skills of the Monnaie de Paris’ master engravers are shown on this coin that illustrates the harmony of the Taj Mahal’s forms, the elegance of its lines and the richness of its decoration. The obverse shows a view of the Taj Mahal with its long, tree-lined pool with the RF (for République française – French Republic) text, given a reflective surface treatment. The lower section is bordered by the words “Taj Mahal.”

The 1-kg coin is struck from .999 gold, has a 5,000-euro denomination and is a whopping 85 mm in diameter. To make it even more exceptional, the dome is being set with diamonds (other denominations in this series will not have the diamonds). Only 29 pieces will be produced.

The second 1-kg piece is part of the Art & Culture family and issued under the Great Painters theme. After featuring four great Impressionist painters, the Monnaie de Paris is now paying tribute to modernist painters Georges Braque (1882-1963) and Pablo Picasso (1881-1973). The 1-kg coin shows, on the obverse, Picasso’s 1948 poster entitled “Vallauris, fauna,” while the reverse bears a portrait of the great master and his signature.

It is struck from .999 gold, has a 5,000-euro denomination and is rectangular. Only 29 of this piece will be produced as well.

The first 10-ounce piece is issued under the Europa theme of the Europe family. The Europa continues to bear the popular goddess Europa on the obverse while the reverse celebrates the 1,100th anniversary of Cluny Abbey. The second piece is of the Europa Star series. Linked to pieces struck by other European mints, which, this year, celebrate great European architectural works, it recognizes the Georges Pompidou Centre inaugurated in 1977. To properly celebrate this building, the original architects Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers were invited to design the piece. Both 10-ounce pieces are struck of .999 gold, have a 1,000-euro denomination, and are 65 mm in diameter. Only 39 pieces will be produced for each design.



Innovation

Since the strike of the “Ultimate Franc” back in 1999, which was undulated yet had an even-level edge, the Monnaie de Paris has been offering some very innovative pieces. In addition to the aforementioned diamond-encrusted piece, it will strike two pieces worth mentioning. In the Great Captains of Industry theme of the History family, it will strike a crown-sized 10-euro piece featuring French aviation magnate Marcel Dassault in an alloy used in the aviation industry.

The other innovation comes with the newest theme in the Geography family: Trains of France. This entirely new collection aims to highlight the technological excellence of French trains as well as the regions of France and their heritage. The Lille Europe railway station, with its extremely modern architecture, was first used in April 1994 when the Northern TGV (train à grande vitesse – high speed train) line was launched. It was on the principle of transparency that this station was designed to welcome Eurostar trains travelling through Lille, heading for or coming from Brussels, London, and Paris.

The obverse shows the Lille Europe station with its undulating roof design. The reverse shows the three TGVs, TGV-Nord, Eurostar and Thalys, at full speed on three parallel lines. The innovation is that all pieces of this series will be shaped like a train wheel. This is accomplished through the use of a double collar, a wider one, on the obverse side, and a narrower one, on the reverse side. This will be particularly spectacular on the silver 20-euro piedfort piece.

The great news for collectors is that all 12 themes offer a crown-sized silver 10-euro piece (rectangular for the painters) that will sell for about 40 euro each (for non-EU residents). For more information, visit the Monnaie de Paris Web site at www.monnaiedeparis.fr.



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