The Monnaie de Paris (the Paris Mint) launches a collection of commemorative coins to celebrate the Bicentenary of Napoleon’s death
The Monnaie de Paris (the Paris Mint), partner of 2021 Année Napoléon, has launched a collection of commemorative coins to celebrate the Bicentenary of Napoleon’s death.
As part of the Bicentenary of Napoleon’s death, the Monnaie de Paris is launching an exceptional collection of commemorative coins.
On 27 April 2021, the inaugural coining of one of the highlights of the collection took place, a silver coin with a face value of ten euros, in the shape of a bicorn, decorated on both sides with Napoleonic symbols. Joaquin Jimenez, “Graveur général” [Head Engraver] of the Monnaie de Paris, chose Napoleon’s famous hat as the object that carries “all the allegories and symbols of the Napoleonic heritage”. To make a coin in this unusual shape requires the expert know-how of the craftsmen of the Monnaie de Paris who use a specific tool to cut planchets (blank coins, sometimes also known as flans) to respect perfectly the final shape which is contained by a special ferrule during the minting process. In addition to these elements, the matrix also in the shape of a bicorn is ready to strike this uniquely-shaped coin.
On the obverse, representing in relief the bicorn with its cockade, are three grenadiers of the Imperial Guard, a cross of the Legion d’Honneur and a personification of the Civil (also known in English as the Napoleonic) Code with the dates “1821” and “2021”.
On the reverse, an Imperial Eagle surrounded by rays of the “Sun of Austerlitz”, a laurel wreath (which also forms the “0” of the value namely, 10 euros) encircling the Imperial N, and the silhouette of the Emperor, all on a background of bees.
► Take a look at the entire collection of coins commemorating the Bicentenary of Napoleon’s death on the website of the Monnaie de Paris.
– On the same day, the president and CEO of the Monnaie de Paris, Marc Schwartz, confirmed that the exhibition “Sur les pas de Napoléon Ier” [In the Footsteps of Napoleon I] will be held at the Monnaie de Paris exhibition space, from 17 September 2021 to 6 March 2022, in partnership with the Fondation Napoléon.
28 April 2021
