714) Dakota Aircraft (Douglas DC-3) and the Berlin Airlift (26.06.1948-12.05.1959): Five Commemorative coins - three Gold (500, 200 nd 50 Euro) and two Silver (50 and 10 Euro) issued by the Monnaie de Paris in 2018, in the Coin Series "L'Aviation Historie" ("Aviation & History") as a tribute to the "flying workhorse" and its massive relief operations during the Berlin Airlift:

714) Dakota Aircraft (Douglas DC-3)  and the Berlin Airlift (26.06.1948-12.05.1959): Five Commemorative coins - three Gold (500, 200 nd 50 Euro) and two Silver (50 and 10 Euro) issued by the Monnaie de Paris in 2018, in the Coin Series "L'Aviation Historie" ("Aviation & History") as a tribute to the "flying workhorse" and its massive relief operations during the Berlin Airlift:

The Monnaie de Paris has issued Gold and Silver Coins in various denominations, which pay a tribute to one of the most well-known of transport planes that took part in some of Europe's most important supply and relief missions after the Second World War.

The Reverse of the 50 Euro Gold Coin shows a Dakota flying crew with several Dakotas in the air recreating the great humane operation "Berlin Airlift" in which the Dakotas played a significant role. The coin image is set against that of children  waiting for supplies and waving to the pilots.

The Reverse of the 50 Euro Silver Coin shows a Dakota flying crew with several sorties being made by the cargo planes in the "Berlin Airlift". The coin image is set against that of several West Berliners thronging the roads waiting anxiously for the Airplanes to drop their loads

The "Berlin Airlift", as it is popularly called, was a massive humanitarian programme of the Allied Occupation Forces, in which vital supplies of food and medicine were delivered to the citizens of West Berlin, located in the East German sector , which took place 70 years ago, in 1948, which is also commemorated on the coins.

With Germany having been divided into sectors of occupation following the cessation of hostilities in Europe in May 1945, the sector of Germany which had been occupied by the USSR and included a sector in the country's capital Berlin, had essentially been  blockaded from the rest of Germany. The capital itself had also been divided between the allies of the United States, Great Britain, France and the USSR, who were responsible for the administration of their sectors. With the formation of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany - 1948-1990) supported by the USSR and the establishment of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) made up of three sectors of the Western allies, West Berlin was now fully blockaded by the USSR and becoming more and more isolated with heavy borders being erected.

The USA, Great Britain and France co-ordinated their efforts in administration, but the USSR had also cut off the citizens of East Germany in their sector from the rest of Berlin, which included vital supplies such as food and medicine.

As the crucial need for supplies was growing by the day and Berliners were now cut off from each other, the Western allies devised a programme where they would airlift what West Berliners needed for their very survival.

France deployed its Douglas DC-3 transport planes (nicknamed "Dakota" by the Allies) for the massive relief effort.

Designed in 1936 by aircraft manufacturer McDonnell Douglas, these "flying workhorses" of the sky were first used for air transport during D-Day in 1944 with the delivery of troops and supplies vital to keep the Allied front-lines operational.

The "Berlin Airlift" proved to be a famous mission to add to the Dakota's history. The air-lift lasted from 26.06.1948 (when the first plane-load of food and supplies landed at Templehof Airport) till 12.05.1949 (when the Soviet authorities lifted the blockade). The USSR while lifting the blockade, also demanded that the Western allies withdraw their plan to introduce the newly established Deutsche Mark currency, but it was put into circulation despite the USSR misgivings.

The Airlift continued intermittently after the blockade was lifted until 30.09.1949, despite several incidents where the Dakota planes were harassed and the USSR attempted to interfere with the deliveries. In the end, the Dakotas played a major part in the Air-Lift Allied exercise in which a total of 2,326,406 tons of supplies - nearly two-thirds of which was coal was air-dropped for use for West Berlin's energy requirements in around 278,228 flights to Berlin. 

The Berlin Blockade highlighted the competing ideological and economic visions for post-war Germany and Europe.

The Commemorative Coins issued:

The "L'Aviation Historie ("Aviation & History") Coin Series honours two specific planes every year which have contributed to exceptional circumstances in French history.

On the Reverse of the 500 Euro Gold Coin is seen a Dakota crew watching flights which have ttaken off with supplies to be air-dropped in the Operation code-named "Berlin Airlift". On lower left is the denomination of the coin "500 EURO" and on lower right is the inscription "L'AVIATION HISTOIRE" (meaning " Aviation & History"). 

On the Obverse of the 500 Euro Gold Coin is seen a Dakota (Douglas DC-3) flying over Berlin where children wait for supplies and wave to the pilots. Also shown are the Brandenburg Gate and the Airlift Monument on either side. A chain of small Dakotas is seen in the Berlin sky, recalling the great humanitarian operation. To the left periphery is mentioned "C47-1948".

In the centre is a quote from President John F. Kennedy during his historic visit to Berlin in which he said "Ich bin Berliner" (meaning "I am a Berliner"), paying tribute to the "Berlin Airlift" in 1963.

The specifications of this coin are:

Denomination: 500 Euros; Metal Composition: .999 Gold (Au); Weight: 155.5 grams; Diameter/Size: 50.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage: 99 pieces; Mint: Monnaie de Paris; Year: 2018. Mint Mark: Cornucopia Mint Mark of the Paris Mint.

On the Reverse of the 200 Euro Gold Coin is seen a Dakota crew watching flights which have taken off with supplies to be air-dropped in the Operation code-named "Berlin Airlift". On the lower left is the denomination of the coin "200 EURO" and on lower right is the inscription "L'AVIATION HISTOIRE" (meaning "Aviation & History").

On the Obverse of the 200 Euro coin is seen a Dakota (Douglas DC-3) flying over Berlin where children wait for supplies and wave to the pilots. Also shown are the Brandenburg Gate and the Airlift Monument on either side. A chain of small Dakotas is seen in the Berlin sky, recalling the great humanitarian operation. To the left periphery is mentioned "C47-1948". 

In the centre is a quote from President John F. Kennedy during his historic visit to Berlin in which he said "Ich bin Berliner" (meaning "I am a Berliner"), paying tribute to the "Berlin Airlift" in 1963.

The specifications of this coin are:

Denomination: 200 Euros; Metal Composition: .999 Gold (Au); Weight: 31.10 grams; Diameter/Size: 37.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage: 500 pieces; Mint: Monnaie de Paris; Year: 2018. Mint Mark: Cornucopia Mint Mark of the Paris Mint.

On the Reverse of the 50  Euro Gold Coin is seen a Dakota crew watching flights which have taken off with supplies to be air-dropped in the Operation code-named "Berlin Airlift". On the lower left is the denomination of the coin "50 EURO" and on lower right is the inscription "L'AVIATION HISTORIE" (meaning "Aviation and History). 

On the Obverse of the 50 Euro Gold Coin is seen a Dakota (Douglas DC-3) flying over Berlin where children wait for supplies and wave to the pilots. Also shown are the Brandenburg Gate and the Airlift Monument on either side. A chain of small Dakotas is seen in the Berlin sky, recalling the great humanitarian operation. To the left periphery is mentioned "C47-1948".

In the centre is a quote from President John F. Kennedy during his historic visit to Berlin in which he said "Ich bin Berliner"(meaning "I am a Berliner"), paying tribute to the "Berlin Airlift" in 1963.

The specifications of this coin are:

Denomination: 50 Euro; Metal Composition: .999 Gold (Au); Weight: 7.78 grams; Diameter/Size: 22.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage: 500 pieces; Mint: Monnaie de Paris; Year: 2018. Mint Mark: Cornucopia Mint Mark of the Paris Mint.

On the Reverse of the 50 Euro Silver Coin is seen a Dakota crew watching flights which have taken off with supplies to be air-dropped in the Operation code-named "Berlin Airlift". On the lower left is the denomination of the coin "50 EURO"  and on lower right is the inscription "L'AVIATION HISTORIE" (meaning "Aviation and History").

On the Obverse of the 50 Euro Silver coin is seen a Dakota (Douglas DC-3) flying over Berlin where children wait for supplies and wave to pilots. Also shown are the Brandenburg Gate and the Airlift Monument on either side. A chain of small Dakotas is seen in the Berlin sky, recalling the great humanitarian operation. To the left periphery is mentioned "C47-1948".

In the centre is a quote from President John F. Kennedy during his historic visit to Berlin in which he said "Ich bin Berliner" (meaning "I am a Berliner"), paying tribute to the "Berlin Airlift" in 1963.

The specifications of this coin are:

Denomination: 50 Euro; Metal Composition: .950 Silver (Ag); Weight: 163.8 grams; Diameter/Size: 50.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage: 250 pieces;  Mint: Monnaie de Paris; Year: 2018. Mint Mark: Cornucopia mint mark of the Paris Mint.

On the Reverse of the 10 Euro Silver coin is seen a Dakota crew watching flights which have taken off with supplies to be air-dropped in the Operation code-named "Berlin Airlift". On the lower left is the denomination of the coin"10 EURO" and on the lower right is the inscription "L'AVIATION HISTORIE" (meaning "Aviation and History").

On the Obverse of the 10 Euro Silver coin is seen a Dakota (Douglas DC-3) flying over Berlin where children wait for supplies and wave to pilots. Also shown are the Brandenburg Gate and the Airlift Monument on either side. A chain of small Dakotas is seen in the Berlin Sky, recalling the great humanitarian operation. To the left periphery is mentioned "C47-1948".

In the centre is a quote from President John F. Kennedy during his historic visit to Berlin in which he said "Ich bin Berliner" (meaning "I am a Berliner"), paying tribute to the "Berlin Airlift" in 1963.

The specifications of this coin are:

Denomination: 10 Euro; Metal Composition: .950 Silver (Ag); Weight: 22.2 grams; Diameter/Size: 37.0 mm ; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage:3,000 pieces; Mint: Monnaie de Paris; Year: 2018. Mint Mark: Cornucopia Mint mark of the Paris Mint.

Remarks: Each coin in the series is available separately and is encapsulated and presented in a custom-branded Monnaie de Paris case along woth a Certificate of Authenticity (COA).


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 

15) Dakota Aircraft & the Berlin Airlift: Latest coins in the "L'Aviation Historie" ("Aviation and History) Coin Series issued in 2018 by the Paris Mint: