French Seven Arts proof coin series continues with a Gallic cinema legend, Jean Gabin.

Another of the many series of precious metal coins issued by the Monnaie de Paris  has been boosted with a new entrant and this time it’s one celebrating something very close to the French heart – the arts. Called 7 Arts, this series encompasses a single release each year, each looking at one of the primary arts, and featuring one of its most famous French proponents.

The first coin launched in 2013 and featured Dance with Rudolf Noureev. Two formats make up each release, a ¼oz 0.920 gold, and a 22.2g 0.900 silver. Subsequent coins looked at Music with Jean-Philippe Rameau (2014) and Architecture with Le Corbusier (2015). For 2016, the subject of choice is Cinema, and the mint has chosen a French acting legend of the silver screen, Jean Gabin.

Born Jean-Alexis Moncorgé in Paris on 17 May 1904, Gabin entered the entertainment industry at an early age and performed in a variety of minor roles until joining the military. When his service was completed he took work in the various Parisian music halls and operettas before eventually finding work at the Moulin Rouge. After a couple of silent movies in 1928, he made the jump to talkies in 1930 and enjoyed great success. Moving to the USA at the outbreak of World War II he continued to work before, in 1943, joining the Free French Forces.He earned the Médaille militaire and a Croix de guerre for his bravery and was amongst the troops that entered the newly liberated Paris.

Re-entering the movie world after the war, it wasn’t until 1954 that he enjoyed success again, which he maintained for most of the fifty-plus movies he made after that date until his death. Gabin died in the American Hospital of Paris in Neuilly-sur-Seine on 15 November 1976 of leukaemia. His ashes were scattered at sea with full military honours.

Following earlier issues, the reverse face of the coin depicts an example of the art in use, in this case a scene from a Gabin movie called La Bête Humaine with a steam train in Gare Saint-Lazare Station in Paris. The obverse pictures a reproduction of a famous photograph of Gabin in middle age against a backdrop of film strips. Inscriptions are well placed to minimise intrusiveness and the whole is another fine design by Christian Lacroix, the famous designer also responsible for one of favourite series, From Clovis to Republic. Available now, the Monnaie de Paris currently has the first two issues on sale at 10-15% off.

Jean-Alexis-GabinMoncorgé (1904-1976) entered the world of show business on the stage at the FoliesBergères before doing his military service. He made his cinema debut in 1928 and played in some of the most well-known French films including La Grande Illusion, Le Quai des brumes or La Bête Humaine. In 1943, the actor joined the Free French Forces and was later presented with the Médaille Militaire and the Croix de Guerre. Films like Touchez pas au grisbi, La Traversée de Parisor again Un Singe en hiver will mark the following decades.

He ranks amongst the French actors who has attracted the highest cinema audience numbers: approximately 161 million between 1946 and 1976.