European Mints Dazzle Collectors
The year 2024, as Reading Room regulars know, was another banner year for new releases from around the globe. Leading European mints released some fantastic additions to their offerings toward the end of the year.
These coins are significant and historic—each in their own way. They include the French program for the reconstruction of Notre-Dame cathedral after the devastating 2019 fire; the first coin of a new series celebrating the Franco-American relationship with a collaboration between two legendary engravers; the first-ever silver sovereign coins from the Royal Mint; and the debut release in a new series from Italy’s Powercoin called “Monumental Views.”
Notre-Dame
Last year was a big one for the Paris Mint. In addition to its usual wide range of coins, it also released a large portfolio for the Summer Olympic Games held in Paris.
To help celebrate the public reopening of the historic Notre-Dame cathedral after five years of restoration, the mint launched an impressive group of coins that depict the legendary structure.
Among them is a 10-euro silver proof piece that is arch shaped to highlight the cathedral’s distinctive Gothic architecture. Made of 22.2g of .999-fine silver, it has an issue limit of 5,000 coins.
For information on the other new Notre Dame-themed proof coins, which include 2- and 5-ounce silver and quarter ounce, 1-ounce and 1-kio gold pieces, visit the mint’s website (monnaiedeparis.fr).
Marianne & Lady Liberty
Then there is a 20-euro high-relief silver proof coin that is the first of a new three-year series memorializing Franco-American ties. It features original designs of national numismatic symbols. Two giants of engraving—12th U.S. Mint Chief Engraver John Mercanti and current French Chief Engraver Joaquin Jimenez—collaborated on the motif. Like Mercanti, Jimenez has had a major influence on his nation’s coinage.
The debut coin features a different portrait of Liberty on each side. The obverse is Mercanti’s design of the Sower against a background with the French flag and some wheat stalks. The Sower is a depiction of Marianne (the French personification of Liberty) created by Louis Oscar Roty in 1887 that shows her walking as she sows seeds. Some believe Roty helped inspire Adolph Weinman’s Walking Liberty design.
The reverse also flips the script with an original, modern interpretation of Lady Liberty by Jimenez. She is shown wearing a crown of stars with her arms spread wide against a background of the U.S. flag and behind it a group of stars. The coin is made of 31.1g of .999-fine silver, has a 37mm diameter and mintage of 3,000.
The series concludes in 2026 with a celebration of the United States’ 250th birthday.
First Silver Sovereigns
To mark the 200th anniversary of one of the versions of the British gold sovereign, the Royal Mint unveiled its 2025 collection and announced some major changes to the program going forward. These include returning to using yellow rather than rose gold in these pieces beginning in 2026 and the issuance of the first-ever silver sovereign in late 2024.
The sovereign is one of the most iconic coins ever. It played a major role in facilitating trade and commerce, especially in the 19th century. The sovereign has featured Benedetto Pistrucci’s St. George and the Dragon motif since 1817, while Jean-Baptiste Merlin’s Royal Arms design first appeared in 1825.
While the. mint has always made sovereigns in .9167-fine gold, the new silver sovereigns are struck from .999-fine silver. They also feature the same diameter and weight (22.05mm and 7.988g) as their gold counterparts.
The Royal Mint announced the silver coins on October 3 and issued in proof in two versions—with and without a special privy mark to pay tribute to the 200th anniversary of the Royal Arms sovereign. The ones without the privy have a mintage of 50,000, while the privy marked pieces are limited to 15,000.
Views of Rome
Readers of my former Numismatist columns on modern world coins will be familiar with the award-winning, innovative pieces that Italy’s Powercoin has released. Those coins have showcased art, sculpture, modern technology, and other subjects.
A new series, Monumental View, will depict scenes from different cities around the world on $20, 3-ounce, .9999-fine silver-black proof coins issued for the Cook Islands. They feature the latest high-relief and digital-printing technology. These 50mm coins have a limited mintage of 499 pieces.
The debut piece, Roma, features center an intricate scene with an elaborate arch that perfectly frames a view of St. Peter’s Basilica. The coin also shows small depictions the Colosseum; the famous statue of the alleged founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, being nurtured by the Capitoline she-wolf; and many other highlights of the Italian capitol.
This new series should be of interest to lovers of art, architecture and travel.
