Commemorating a Star

In honor of the 100th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe’s birth, the Monnaie de Paris is featuring the actress on the 2026 release of its Women of the World series. The series began in 2016 with issues dedicated to Queen Clotilde, Queen Mathilde, and Joan of Arc. The 2025 release honored Josephine Baker, an American and French activist, dancer, singer, and actress.

Monroe’s portrait appears in the center of the obverse, surrounded by stars in a nod to those on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her name also frames the portrait, and 2026 appears below. The reverse includes film reels, a microphone, flowers, and hearts with Monroe’s signature in the center. Her famous quote “We are all stars and we deserve to shine” inscribed in French encircles the design. The commemorative is available in €200 1-ounce and €50 1/4-ounce gold versions, as well as €50 silver proof, €10 silver, and circulation-quality €10 coins. Both gold examples and the €10 silver coin feature free striking, or historical striking, which gives the coins an old and unique appearance. Mintages are limited to 250 (1-ounce gold), 500 (1/4-ounce gold and proof silver), 3,000 (silver), and 15,000 (circulation quality). All coins are available on the Monnaie de Paris’s website.

Marilyn Monroe

Born on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles, California, Monroe was an iconic model, actress, and singer. She began her career as a pin-up model, and she quickly transitioned to acting. By 1953 she was one of Hollywood’s most well-known stars. She founded her own production company in 1954, and in 1959 she won a Golden Globe for her role in Some Like It Hot. Monroe was a top-billed actress for a decade, and her films grossed a total of $200 million (equivalent to $2 billion in 2025). She died on August 4, 1962, at the age of 36.