As the oldest organisation in France, the Monnaie De Paris has been minting coins for a staggering 1150 years, a longer period than even the British Royal Mint. With such a rich numismatic history to draw upon, they’ve chosen one of the classic symbols of France, the Gallic Rooster, an ancient symbol of Gaul that has its origins in the days of the Roman occupation because the latin for rooster and for the gallic people then was Gallus.

The original was minted between 1899 and 1914, struck in 0.900 gold and carried on it’s obverse the portrait of Marianne, a personification of Republican France. On the reverse was the rooster with the famous French phrase, “LIBERTE EGALITE FRATERNITE” (Liberty, equality, fraternity) surrounding it. These coins are still readily available as they were minted in large numbers and prices aren’t especially high.

This latest Joaquim Jimenez design will be released throughout the year with only the silver and the smallest gold available to order now. The 20g gold drops on April 27th and the 100g gold on October 12th, both by subscription.

ORIGINAL ROOSTER COIN

Carrying a different reverse design from 2014, although maintaining the same style, the 2015 Rooster coin continues to sell for its face value in much the same way as the Royal Canadian Mints $ for $, and the Royal Mints £ for £ ranges. Unlike those other mints however, the Monnaie de Paris takes the values past the stratosphere and into orbit. While the Royal Mint tops out at £100, and the RCM at $200, the Parisian mint runs up to a staggering €5,000!!

Silver coins come in €10 and €100 denominations, the former in two versions, one of which is a limited proof coin that at €29, is the only one selling for more than its face value. Gold starts at €250, with a €1000 coin being the only stop-off before hitting that phenomenal €5000. Interestingly, the small silver coin has gone from 0.500 fineness to just 0.333. Considering how cheap silver is at the moment, that seems an unnecessary change.

At left is the 2016 design that will round out this three-year series.

MINTS DESCRIPTION

Since 2008, the Monnaie de Paris is honouring numismatic symbols by creating modern versions revisited through modern numismatic styles. It all began with the Sower for 3 years, followed by Hercules and finally the Rooster, French animal to the core. From 2008 to 2010, the kinetic Sower, reinterpretation of Oscar Roty’s original Sower. From 2011 to 2013, Hercules surrounded by Liberty and Equality, reinterpretation of Augustin Dupré’s Hercules. From 2014 to 2016: the Rooster, new creation inspired by Jules-Clément Chaplain’s drawing.

REVERSE: The reverse shows the face value surrounded by two branches (oak and laurel) that evoke the Euro symbol. The entire reverse motive is framed in a hexagonal design representing the shape of France.

OBVERSE: On the obverse, the rooster’s bust with its cockscomb and feathers represented in a contemporary style with a rich textural surface. Its posture can be guessed, proud and confident. It carries the French motto « Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité ». In the background, the French flag is depicted in heraldic colors like on the 10, 20 and 50 euro cents coins: horizontal stripes for blue, no stripes for white and vertical stripes for red.

SPECIFICATION

FACE VALUE METAL WEIGHT DIAMETER QUALITY MINTAGE
€10 EURO 0.333 SILVER 17.0 g 31.00 mm B/UNC 500,000
€10 EURO 0.333 SILVER 17.0 g 31.00 mm PROOF 10,000
€100 EURO 0.900 SILVER 50.0 g 47.00 mm B/UNC 15,000
€250 EURO 0.999 GOLD 4.5 g 23.00 mm B/UNC 25,000
€1000 EURO 0.999 GOLD 20.0 g 39.00 mm PROOF 10,000
€5000 EURO 0.999 GOLD 100.0 g 45.00 mm PROOF 2,000
MONNAIE DE PARIS