Queen of Crime

On February 17, the Monnaie de Paris launched a series of coins dedicated to detective author Agatha Christie and some of her most notable works. The pieces are part of the mint’s The Art of the Quill series, which premiered in 2021 and focuses on authors who have influenced literature in France and abroad. Past honorees include Molière, William Shakespeare, Alexandre Dumas, Luís de Camões, and Jules Verne. Christie joins their ranks for 2026.

Master of Mystery

One of the world’s most widely read authors, Agatha Christie (1890-1976) remains an iconic figure in crime fiction 50 years after her death. After several literary failures, she found success with The Mysterious Affair at Styles, published in 1920, which marked the first appearance of the famous detective Hercule Poirot. In 1926 the publication of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd—which sold nearly 8,000 copies, a veritable triumph at the time—definitively established her place among the genre’s greats. She became unstoppable, publishing one or two novels a year recounting the adventures of Poirot and Miss Marple.

Renowned for the subtlety of her plots, the richness of her characters, and her extreme attention to detail, Christie captivated millions of readers with her twists and turns, red herrings, and cleverly concealed clues. She is still recognized today as the “Queen of Crime,” and her works continue to inspire literature, theatre, cinema, and numismatics.

Four Designs

The 2026 Agatha Christie coin features the author gazing thoughtfully into the distance. She is surrounded by scenery from four of her landmark novels, including And Then There Were None, Murder on the Orient Express, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, and Death on the Nile.  Three creatively designed collector coins pay homage to the latter two works, along with The Body in the Library, respectively. The series’ common reverse features a quill pen and well-known quotations from some of history’s most respected writers.

“While working on this collection, I realized that Agatha Christie and I had something in common: the art of constructing stories sprinkled with clues that are key to understanding them,” says general engraver Joaquin Jimenez. “Beyond the captivating plots of her novels, it was the Queen of Crime’s attention to detail that inspired me to create the subtle designs for the coins of this collection.” 

The Christie coin is available as a 1/4-ounce gold proof €50 and a 1-ounce high-relief silver proof €20. Each collector coin is available as a silver proof €10. Mintage of each design is limited to 3,000, except the gold piece, of which only 500 will be struck. To purchase, visit the Monnaie de Paris’s website.