This is France last coin minted to carry the Franc denomination before the conversion to Euros.
Minted by Monnaie De Paris (Paris Mint) and issued on Sept 15th 2001, this is one of the most simplistic yet remarkable commemorative coin I have ever seen! It is truly a work of art. No wonder that it won 2 awards, 2001 Most Innovative Coin as well as 2001 Best Coin of the Year!
This matt finished silver coin with 0.9 fineness weighs 17.8 grams and has a diameter of 33mm. Unlike conventional coins which are flat, this coin has an unusual "warp" surface, the first of its kind in the history of coins! Try to imagine the cross section of the coin looking like this ~ and you will undertand what I mean.
The rim has the inscription “RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE” for “French Republic”, “LIBERTÉ ÉGALITÉ FRATERNITÉ”, the motto of France and “STARCK”, the last name of the coin designer, Philippe Starck.
Read this very interesting writeup by the Marketing Director of Paris mint, Mr Gilles de Gouyon, detailing the whole chain of events leading up to the complete sell out of this coin, which took the Paris mint by surprise:
www.mdc2004.com/downloads/session2_LastFranc.pdf
i want to buy this one. how much is this?
ReplyDeletePlease email me direct.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete