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Wednesday, 16 May 2018

719) George Sand, Author: "Women of France Coin Series": third Coin in the Series issued by the Monnaie de Paris, France on 04.05.2018:

719) George Sand, Author: "Women of France Coin Series": third Coin in the Series issued by the Monnaie de Paris, France on 04.05.2018:

 For my post on Frederic Chopin, with whom she had a long relationship, please visit the following link:

 Honouring Frederic Francois Chopin (01.03.1810-17.10.1849) on his200th Birth Anniversary: A 20 Zloty Banknote issued by "Narodwy Bank Polski" (National Bank of Poland) in 2010
The Monnaie de Paris has issued on 04.05.2018, its  third and final coin for 2018 under its popular series "Women of France", which honours notable French women who have shaped and influenced France from the first millennium to the current decade. The first two coins issued this year under the Series were on - Josephine de Beauharnais (1763-1814) and Desiree Clary (1777-1860).

George Sand (1804-1876): 

This coin highlights the life of author George Sand, controversial in her day for her political views, her ability to develop a successful career in the middle 19th century and for her romantic relationships which often became public matters.

The Obverse of the 10 Euro Silver coin set against a portrait of George Sand

Known as "Aurore" in her early childhood, She was born Marie-Aurore de Saxe, Madame Dupin de Francueil in the city of Paris. She was later brought up at her grandmother's estate - Nohant - in the French Province of Berry. She used the splendid setting of her childhood in many of her novels. Her upbringing was quite liberal and in some ways, ostentatious.

Her father, Maurice Dupin (1778-1808), was himself the grandson of the Marshal General of France, Maurice, Comte de Saxe (1696-1750), an illegitimate son of Augustus II the Strong (1670-1733), King of Poland and a Saxon Elector. She was a cousin to the sixth degree to the brother-Kings Louis XVI, Louis XVIII and Charles X of France and was also related much more distantly to King Louis Philippe of France through common ancestors from German and Danish ruling families.

On 10.12.1822, at the age of 18, she was married to Casimir Dudevant (1795-1871), who was the illegitimate son of Baron Jean-Francois Dudevant from whom she had two children.

By early 1831, she left her husband and children to embark on a 4 or 5 year period of "romantic rebellion", and by 1835, she legally separated from her husband, taking her children with her.

Known as a woman with strong political convictions, she managed to embark on a career at a time when it was unthinkable/impossible for a woman to work during the 1830s.

She began her working life as a journalist for "Le Figaro" newspaper. Adopting the male name of George Sand, she became a published author of noted popularity and became one of the most influential writers of her time. A strong advocate for women's rights, she was also committed to the Revolution of 1848 which returned France to a Republic, the third in its modern history.

She also prodded French Society due to her hectic love life, her masculine dress code and her masculine adopted pseudonym. She became an active contributor to the intellectual life of this artistic and creative society and was very close to influential artists like Honore de Balzac, Gustave Flaubert, Eigene Delacroix, Victor Hugo and particularly Frederic Chopin - with whom she had a seven-year relationship.


George Sand passed away in Nohant Castle at the age of 72 years and was buried in the private graveyard behind the chapel at Nohant-Vic survived byher two children. Her son Jean-Francois-Maurice-Arnauld Dudevant later adopted the pseudonym Marice Sand and became a writer, artist and entomologist. 

The Commemorative Coins:

The coins in this set include  200 Euro and 50 Euro Gold Coins and a 10 Euro Silver piece.
The Obverse of the 200 Euro Gold Coin depicts Aurore Dupin as her alter-ego, George Sand, who is wearing a masculine outfit with top hat. Below her portrait are her life years "1804-1876" and her name "GEORGE SAND" is in the background.

The Reverse of the 200 Euro Gold Coin includes effigies George Sand and Frederic Chopin during the time when they  were in a relationship together. The depiction was inspired by Delacroix's painting of the couple. In the background is a music score composed by Chopin during the same time in history.

The denomination of the coin "200 EURO" is given below their image. Further below is the year of issue "2018". On one side of the year of issue is the "Cornucopia" (horn of plenty) mint mark of the Monnaie de Paris.

Also in the background is a tapestry originating from the Nohant Castle, the writer's house that was acquired by her paternal grandmother.

 The specifications of this coin are:

 Denomination:200 Euro; Metal Composition: .999 Gold; Weight: 31.1 grams; Diameter: 37.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage: 500 pieces; Mint: Monnaie de Paris; Year: 2018.

 Remarks: Each coin is encapsulated and housed in a branded Monnaie de Paris custom case along with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity (COA).

The Obverse of the 50 Euro Gold Coin depicts Aurore Dupin as her alter-ego - George Sand - who is wearing a masculine outfit with top hat. Below her portrait are her life years "1804-1876" and her name "GEORGE SAND" is in the background.

The Reverse of the 50 Euro Gold Coin includes effigies of George Sand and Frederic Chopin during the time when they were in a relationship together. The depiction was inspired by Delacroix's painting of the couple. In the background is a music score composed by Chopin during the same time in history.

 The denomination of the coin "50 EURO" is given below their image. Further below is the year of issue "2018". On one side of the year of issue is the "Cornucopia" (horn of plenty) mint mark of the Monnaie de Paris.

 Also in the background is a tapestry originating from the Nohant Castle, the writer's house that was acquired by her paternal grandmother.

 The specifications of this coin are:

 Denomination: 50 Euro; Metal Composition: .999 Gold (Au); Weight: 7.78 grams; Diameter: 22.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage: 1,000 pieces; Mint: Monnaie de Paris; Year: 2018.

 Remarks: Each coin is encapsulated and housed in a branded Monnaie de Paris custom case along with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity (COA).

The Obverse of the 10 Euro Silver Coin depicts Aurore Dupin as her alter-ego - George Sand - who is wearing a masculine outfit with top hat. Below her portrait are her life years "1804-1876" and her name "GEORGE SAND" is in the background.
The Reverse of the 10 Euro Silver Coin includes effigies of George Sand and Frederic Chopin during the time when they were in a relationship together. The depiction was inspired by Delacroix's painting of the couple. In the background is a music score composed by Chopin during the same time in history.

The denomination of the coin "10 EURO" is given below their image. Further below is the year of issue "2018".On one side of the year of issue is the "Cornucopia" (horn of plenty) mint mark of the Paris Mint.

The specifications of the coin are:

Denomination:10 Euro; Metal Composition: .999 Silver (Ag); Weight: 22.2 grams; Diameter: 37.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage: 5,000 pieces; Mint: Monnaie de Paris; Year: 2018.

Remarks: Each coin is encapsulated and housed in a branded Monnaie de Paris custom case along with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity (COA).


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