French national mint the Monnaie de Paris, has released the latest set of coins in its UNESCO series and these are the second annual release in the new themed sub-range called ‘Banks of the Seine’, the river that runs through the heart of Paris, and a stretch of which is a designated UNESCO site.

Following on from last years ‘Eiffel Tower and Palais de Chaillot’ coins, the range consists of the same five sizes, two silver and three gold. For 2015 the mint has added a new tiny 0.5g gold coin, a size becoming increasingly popular and one likely to remain so, especially as the gold price rises. Detail remains commendably high for the 11mm diameter, so all in a welcome addition.

The stars of the show for us are the two silver coins. Selectively gilded on the half of the coin depicting The Invalides, and selectively plated with black rhodium on the other half featuring The Grand Palais, it’s an unusual combination that seems to contrast very well and give the design added depth. With the 22g coin at €71 and the 5oz at €425, they’re priced a little on the higher side, but the very favourable euro rate at the moment softens things up a bit.

All the coins are available to order from the Monnaie de Paris website with a shipping date of 8 days. Your regular dealer should have them as well, especially in Europe, and we note for US buyers that APMEX has them to order, as well as the Royal Scandanavian Mint. Great classic coin. Well done.

MINTS DESCRIPTION

For more than 40 years, the UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ) lists the sites that are part of the “world heritage cultural property sites”. The aim of this program is to classify, name and preserve the cultural goods and natural assets that matters for the common heritage of humanity. This programme was founded with a Convention adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO on September 16th, 1972. in 2013, over 981 sites in 160 states are registered.

Since 2007, Monnaie de Paris pays tribute to these unique sites in a collector coin series. From 2014 on, a new leaf is turned in this series, that will be dedicated over several years to one of the most famous sites in France : the Banks of the Seine in Paris. Each year, monuments sites within the site’s delimitation will be honoured, and a common reverse for this series will help visualize the location of each monument on a Paris’ map.

From the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower, from Place de la Concorde to Grand Palais and Petit Palais, a lot of Paris historical evolution can be seen from its river. Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Holy Chapel date back to the Middle Ages, when Haussmann’s places and avenues have structured Paris map at the middle of the 19th century. A mix of styles and history making the fame of Paris in the whole world.

THE INVALIDES AND THE GRAND PALAIS

The north facade of the Hôtel des Invalides is a perfect example of the French classical style at the beginning of Louis XIV reign. It is presented on the obverse of the coin, dominated by the dome of the Invalides chapel, designed by the renowned French architect of the 17th century, Jules Hardouin-Mansart. With a mirror effect, the principal facade of the Grand Palais appears on the bottom part of the coin. It is dominated by its famous glass roof, structure that weights approximatively 8 500 tonnes of steel, iron and glass and brings transparency and clarity to the building.

The 10€ and 50€ silver coins are adorned with a selective deposition of black rhodium on the Grand Palais part, and of gold on the Invalides ones. This combination of two metals gives the product perspective and an exceptional look. On the reverse the UNESCO logo, the face value, the yeardate and the mintmarks are to be found on the left side, with the name of the series ‘Rives de Seine’ (Banks of the Seine). On the right, an aerial view of the location of the two monuments. Linking both sides of the reverse, the Seine River, with two dots indicating the location of the monuments honoured in 2015.