For the first time in over a century, France has a gold bullion coin. In the latter half of the 18th century, the Louis d’or fulfilled this role, replaced through the 19th century by the Napoleon coin. Both of those coins featured the effigy of the ruler that introduced them, but since France transitioned from a monarchy to a republic, that’s not really an option any more, so for the 21st century, the Monnaie de Paris has employed Marianne, the national personification of the French Republic.

Marianne has been a symbol of liberty, equality, fraternity and reason in France since the French Revolution, and holds pride of place in many institutions and public places across the country. She is analogous to Joan of Arc, who held a similar place for the monarchy, and is generally depicted wearing a red Phrygian cap. Even in modern times, she has been a perpetual symbol on French coinage, so her choice to adorn the new bullion coin, and give it its name, seems an obvious one.

The depiction, however, is anything but traditional, featuring a modern polygonal effigy of the icon wearing the aforementioned Phrygian cap, and a hexagonal cockade. The latter renders the colours of the French flag using heraldic conventions, with horizontal lines representing blue, vertical lines red, and a smooth area, white. There are 24 small hexagons around the rim, representing the French territory. The obverse is equally futuristic in style, dominated by a faceted map of France, along with its overseas territories. The denomination, composition, and date are inscribed here.

The range includes the usual one-ounce coin, but also fractionals in 1/2, 1/4, and 1/10 ounce weights. They can be purchased directly from the mint in either physical form, or what the Monnaie de Paris is calling the e-Marianne, which is an online wallet, backed by physical gold, that can be traded as usual, and can be redeemed for physical at any time. A nice surprise, and a fine looking bullion coin, it’s terrific to see the French back in the game. How about a silver one then?