443) i) “Europa Coin Programme” or the “European Silver Programme” or the “Eurostar Programme”: ii) “Monnaie de Paris” (the “Paris Mint”) has issued a series of six coins with the theme “The Age of Iron and Glass” in January 2017 (which is part of a wider programme focussing on the “Ages of Europe”):

443) i) “Europa Coin Programme” or the “European Silver Programme” or the “Eurostar Programme”:

ii) “Monnaie de Paris” (the “Paris Mint”) has issued a series of six coins with the theme “The Age of Iron and Glass” in January 2017 (which is part of a wider programme focussing on the “Ages of Europe”): 

For posts on coins issued under the Eurostar Coin Programme, please visit the following links:

1) Europa Coin Programme: A series of six coins issued by the Monnaie de Paris (Paris Mint) with the theme "The Age of Iron & Glass" in January 2017

2) The Golden Age of Finnish Art: A 10 Euro Silver Coin issued by the Mit of Finland with the theme "The Age of Iron And Glass" on 20.02.2017

3) Baptism of Christ: 50 Euro Gold and 10 Euro Silver Coins issued by the Central Bank of Malta on the theme "Baroque and Rococo Art" on 14.03.2018

Europa Coin Programme:

The Europa Coin Programme is an initiative dedicated to issuing of collector coins, in precious metals which celebrate European identity.

Coins under this series are issued by the European Union’s Eurozone member States and the issuing authorities of European Union member countries voluntarily contribute coins to the Europa Coin Programme.

 The Europa Star Series highlights European achievements, anniversaries and common history or cultural ties.

Several countries have taken part in this programme, since its inception in 2004.

Some coins are denominated in Euros, while others are denominated in other currencies. These coins are all legal tender.

The Eurostar logo:

The Eurostar logo is the special mark used on these coins which signify that they have been issued under the “Euro Coin Programme”. The design of the logo is a stylised combination of an “E” (for Europe or the Euro Symbol) and a “star” (often used to symbolise a member nation, for example, on the EU Flag). 

                            The Eurostar logo

It is a requirement that the coins must show the Eurostar distinctly and visibly to the naked eye, but not be integral to the coin’s design.

Other standard coin features for coins issued under the programme:

a)   The coins must be at least .900 fine silver and of Proof quality

b)   The coins should be approx “crown sized” which allows for national traditions and customs

c)   The coins must show the Eurostar logo distinctly

The themes over the past years for the Eurostar Programme coin issues:

2004 – EU Enlargement

2005 – Peace and Freedom

2006 – Distinguished European figures

2007 – European Realisation

2008 – Cultural Heritage

2009 – European Heritage

2010 – European Architecture

2011 – European Explorers

2012 – European Visual Artists

2013 – European Writers

2014 – European Composers

2015 – Anniversary of the UNO

2016 – The Ages of Europe

“Monnaie de Paris” (the “Paris Mint”) has issued the undernoted coin in the Annual Europa Star Coin Series on 24.01.2017:

The Monnaie de Paris has commenced France’s contributions to the Annual Europa Star series of coins for the year 2017.

As mentioned above, coins under this series are issued throughout the European Union’s Eurozone member states. The Europa Star Series highlights European achievements, anniversaries and common history or cultural ties.

This year’s theme for the Europa Star Coin Series (2017) is “The Age of Iron and Glass” which is part of a wider programme focussing on the “Ages of Europe”. The five-year long, co-ordinated programme commenced last year (2016) and will conclude in 2020.

The design on this coin:

The 2017 dated French coin set has an exceptional design, featuring one of the world’s best-known structures located in the capital – the Eiffel Tower.

Also included in the featured design are symbols of the French Romantic era in painting, literature and the development of new technologies and engineering.

The design blends three different elements: the Eiffel Tower, a portrait of Victor Hugo and an historical painting by Eugene Delacroix titled “Liberty leading the People”.

The Eiffel Tower:

The Eiffel Tower is a wrought iron lattice tower on the Champs de Mars in Paris, France, which is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose Company built it from 1887 – 1889. The tower was constructed as an entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair.

 The Eiffel Tower is 324 metres (or 1063 feet) tall (about the same height as an 81-storey building and is the tallest structure in Paris and the second tallest in France after the Millau Viaduct (a cable-stayed bridge that spans the valley of the river Tarn near Millau in Southern France and is the tallest bridge in the world).

The Eiffel Tower’s base is square, measuring 125 metres (or 410 feet) on each side. The Tower has three levels for visitors.

It is now become a global cultural icon of France and is one of the most recognisable and visited paid monuments in the world.

Victor Hugo 926.02.1802 – 22.05.1885):

He was a French poet, novelist and dramatist of the “Romantic Movement”, who is considered to be one of the greatest and best known French writers.

His best known novels are “Les Miserables” (1862) and “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame” (1831) or “Notre-Dame de Paris” (in French).

He is also popular for his poetry collections such as “Les Contemplations” (meaning “The Contemplations”) and “La Legende des siècles” (meaning “The Legend of the Ages”). He also made more than 4,000 drawings and campaigned for social causes including the abolition of capital punishment.

An ardent Royalist when he was young, over the years, he became an avid supporter of Republicanism. His works touch upon several of the social issues and artistic trends of his time.

The historical background of the “Second French Revolution”:

The painting by Eugene Delacroix, references a historical event that took place during the 19^th Century and is essentially considered the “Second French Revolution” after 1789. It was prompted to decide the choice of a new King – Louis-Philippe d’Orleans, who took power for a short period which is in retrospect referred to as the “July Monarchy”.

The Revolution was a revolt that took place over three days – 27-29 July 1830, which has gone down in history as “Le Trois Glorieuses” (in French).

After a long period of parliamentary and ministerial instability, King Charles X, successor to King Louis XVIII and of the house of Bourbon, tried to reinstate his own regime by leading a coup of his own with his ordinances of Saint-Cloud enacted on 25.07.1830.

As a reaction to these ordinances, the fledgling revolt resulted in a Republican Revolution. The people of Paris protested and built barricades in the streets to fight against armed forces loyal to the Crown, resulting in the killing of some 200 soldiers and 800 Revolutionaries.

After what has been recorded by history as the “hesitation of 1830” the constitutional monarchy was maintained – but with a formal change to the French Monarch’s title. Louis-Philippe now held the title of “King of the French” but was no longer called “King of France”.

The Obverse Design on all denominations of the above coins, depicts the “Age of Iron and Glass” in France through three main symbols – Victor Hugo – the prominent French writer of the 20^th Century, the Eiffel Tower – icon of France’s technological evolution, built for the 1899 Universal Exposition and Eugene Delacroix’s painting of “Liberty Leading the People” – evoking the “Trois Glorieuses” of the 1830 Revolution.

On the left periphery is the signature of Victor Hugo next to his portrait, The Eiffel Tower is in the centre and on the right periphery is the inscription “Liberte Eugene Delacroix” .

The denomination of the coin is placed below the primary motif and within the arch of the Eiffel Tower.

The Reverse Design on all denominations of the above coins is common to all the countries from the Europa Star Coin Programme. The design features a star in the centre, extracted from the logo.

This year’s theme “EUROPE ROMANTIQUE & MODERNE” and the name of the issuing country “REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE” are inscribed in a circular arc.

In the centre, is depicted a National Element or Representation. For the French Republic, the Europa goddess is dressed with floating flags with the year “2017” is engraved on the bottom left and the mintmark of the Paris Mint a “Cornucopia” (A "Cornucopia" is a symbol of plenty, consisting of a goat’s horn overflowing with flowers, fruit and corn and sometimes spilling out coins – symbolising prosperity) on the bottom right of the coins to the right of the Europa Star.

The denominations and coin specifications:

The Coins have been issued in six denominations – two in Silver (10 Euros & 50 Euros), both of which generally meets the requirements of the Europa Coin Programme and four in Gold (5 Euros, 50 Euros, 200 Euros and 500 Euros).

The Obverse of the 10 Euros Silver coin showing a portrait of Victor Hugo, the Eiffel Tower and Eugene Delacroix's painting "Liberty Leading the People" juxtaposed with the painting itself

The French Flag is vividly colourised on both the 10 Euro and 50 Euro Silver coins.

                  The Reverse of the 10 Euros Silver coin

The specifications of the coins are:

10 Euros (Silver): Metallic composition: .900 Silver; Weight: 22.2 grams; Diameter/Size: 37.00 mm; Coin Quality: Proof & Applied colour; Mintage (limit): 20,000 pieces.

The Obverse of the 50 Euros Silver coin showing a portrait of Victor Hugo, the Eiffel Tower and Eugene Delacroix's painting "Liberty Leading the People".

The French Flag is vividly colourised on both the 10 Euro and 50 Euro Silver coins.

                            The Reverse of the 50 Euros Silver coin

50 Euros (Silver): Metallic composition: .900 Silver; Weight: 163.8 grams; Diameter/Size: 50.00 mm; Coin Quality: Proof & Applied colour; Mintage (limit): 500 pieces.

The Obverse and Common Reverse of all the four Gold Coin denominations – 5 Euros, 50 Euros, 100 Euros and 500 Euros.

5 Euros (Gold): Metallic composition: .999 Gold; Weight: 0.5 grams; Diameter/Size: 11.00 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage (limit): 5,000 pieces.

50 Euros (Gold): Metallic composition: .999 Gold; Weight: 7.78 grams; Diameter/Size: 22.00 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage (limit): 1,000 pieces.

200 Euros (Gold): Metallic composition: .999 Gold; Weight: 31.10 grams; Diameter/Size: 37.00 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage (limit): 500 pieces.

The Obverse of the 500 Euros Gold Coinshowing a portrait of Victor Hugo, the Eiffel Tower and Eugene Delacroix's painting "Liberty Leading the People".

 

                          The Reverse of the 500 Euros Gold Coin

500 Euros (Gold): Metallic composition: .999 Gold; Weight: 155.50 grams; Diameter/Size: 50.00 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage (limit): 99 pieces.








Links:

 1) Honouring Louis Braille on the Bicentenary of his birth in 2009

2) Honouring Charles Eduord Jeanneret popularly known as Le Corbusieur, the French architect who built the modern city of Chandigarh & several other projects: A 10 Franc Banknote issued by the Swiss National Bank 

3) Fort St. George Museum, Chennai (Part iii): i) Indo-Danish coins ii) Indo-Dutch coins iii) Indo-French coins iv) Indo-Portuguese coins 

4) a) Central Bank of West African States issues: the "Franc African Financial Community" (FCFA) b) Bank of Central African States issues : the "Franc Financial Cooperation in Central Africa (FFCCA)

5) French Indo-China issues: A silver one Paistre coin issued in 1895 

6) Financial Institution for issuing uniform currency/coinage for French Overseas Territories in the Pacific & French Southern Territories of Antarctica: The Institut d'emission d'outre-Mer (IEOM) for French Polynesia (Tahiti), New caledonia, Wallis-et-Futuna and the erstwhile New Hebrides (present day Vanuatu)  

 7) Coinage of the French Polynesian Island of New Caledonia (or Nouvelle-Caledonie in French) - the CFP Franc

8) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's exile to St. Helena (Part I): A one Crown Commemorative Coin issued by the Ascension Island 

9) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's exile to St. Helena (Part II) : coins commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo: 1) A 5 GBP coin issued by the Royal Mint UK: 2) A "Drie Landen Zilverset" issued by the Royal Dutch Mint - which includes coins of Netherlands, Belgium and UK 

 10) Jeanne d'Arc or Joan of Arc or "The Maid of Orleans" or "La Pucelle": 200 & 50 Euro gold coins and 10 Euro Silver coins issued by Monnaie de Paris in July 2016

11) i)"Europa Coin Programme" or the Eurostar Programme ii) Monnaie de Paris has issued a series of six coins with the theme "The Age of Iron & Glass" in January 2017

12) 100th Anniversary of Auguste Rodin's passing away commemorated with gold and silver Euro coins issued by the Monnaie de Paris under its on-going "The 7 Arts" Coin Series

 13) Statue of Liberty, Paris, France: "Treasures of Paris": Coin series issued by Monnaie de Paris on 20.01.2017

14) Marianne (or Liberty): "The Trilogy": A set of Euro denominated coins in Gold and silver brought out by Monnaie de Paris in January 2017