Formally created by Cardinal Richelieu in 1626, the Marine Nationale (French Navy) has spent the last 400 years defending the interests of France, sometimes successfully, as it did during the American War of Independence, and sometimes not so well, as shortly after during the Napoleonic Wars with the Royal Navy.

The Second World War did not give the French navy much chance to do anything, as it was primarily a land war at that stage, although their is little doubt they could have handled the German Kreigsmarine comfortably. After the war, the Marine Nationale started a modernisation that has led to todays force being one of the world’s few true blue-water navies, able to project power globally, including the use of nuclear propulsion and arms.

The coin is only 13 grams of 33.3% silver, but that keeps the price down to a very affordable 13 Euros. Despite that, it has the traditional French obverse, and a design that has no noticeable compromises over its pricier counterparts. The design centres around a sailor (wearing the traditional ‘bâchi’ hat) observing the modern French Navy, including a Triomphant-class nuclear submarine, the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, and the newly commissioned Amiral Ronarc’h frigate in the centre. We like it, and it looks well presented in a gatefold pack, especially for the price. Available to order now, they will ship 16th September.