A Stroke of Genius

The Monnaie de Paris has unveiled the first installment in its most recent trilogy of coins dedicated to the Genius, an allegorical figure featured on coins from the French Revolution. The first issue honors the Genius of Liberty, commonly known as the Genius of the Bastille. “After spending three years focusing on the major gold coins in our history, we wanted to highlight a lesser-known symbol of French numismatics,” says Joaquin Jimenez, the general engraver of the Monnaie de Paris. “This new collection reveals the many facets of an icon of the French Revolution, proudly sharing the republican values of liberty, equality, and fraternity.”

The Genius of Liberty appears with angel wings on the obverse. In his right hand, he holds a torch, representing a guiding light. He holds a broken chain in his left hand as a symbol of liberation. The stylized letters “L,” “I,” and “B” appear in the background. The reverse features the legend LIBERTÉ, ÉGALITÉ, FRATERNITÉ above a lictor’s fasces (a bundle of rods tied together) topped with a Phrygian cap. The obverse design is based on Auguste Dumont’s 1836 sculpture that crowns the July Column in the Place de la Bastille in Paris, while the 100-franc “Fraternité” coins from 1988 inspired the reverse design.

The Genius of Liberty coins are available in .900-fine €100 silver and .999-fine €250 gold versions, with respective mintages of 10,000 and 15,000. For more information and to purchase, visit the Monnaie de Paris’s website.