1642) "Lucky Luke - A Cowboy in High Cotton," France: A 50 Euro Gold Coin issued by Monnaie de Paris (The Paris Mint) depicting Lucky Luke shooting his own shadow: Year of Coin issue: 2021:

1642) "Lucky Luke - A Cowboy in High Cotton," France: A 50 Euro Gold Coin issued by Monnaie de Paris (The Paris Mint) depicting Lucky Luke shooting his own shadow: Year of Coin issue: 2021:

Lucky Luke: is a Western bande dessinée Series created by Belgian cartoonist Morris in 1946. 

Morris wrote and drew the series single-handedly until 1955, after which he started collaborating with French writer René Goscinny, who also created the Astérix series. 

Their partnership lasted until Goscinny's death in 1977. 

Afterwards, Morris collaborated with several other writers, until his own death, in 2001. Since Morris's death, French artist Achdé has drawn the series, aided by the work of other writers.

The Series:

The Series takes place in the American Old West of the United States. It stars the titular Lucky Luke, a gunslinger known as the "man who shoots faster than his shadow", and his intelligent horse Jolly Jumper. Lucky Luke is pitted against various villains, either fictional or inspired by American history or folklore. The most famous of these are the Dalton Brothers, loosely based on the Dalton Gang of the early 1890s. The stories are filled with humorous elements parodying the Western genre.

Best Seller:

Lucky Luke is one of the best-known and best-selling comics series in Europe. 

 81 albums have appeared in the series as of 2019, and 3 special editions/homages, at first published by Dupuis. 

From 1968 to 1998 they were published by Dargaud. 

Since 1999 they have been published by Lucky Comics. 

Each story was first serialized in a magazine: 

- in Spirou from 1946 to 1967, 

- in Pilote from 1967 to 1973, 

- in Lucky Luke in 1974–75, in the French edition of Tintin in 1975–76, and 

- in various other magazines since.

The Series has also had adaptations in other media, such as animated films and television series, live-action films, video games, toys, and board games. 

About half of the series' adventures have been translated into English. 

Lucky Luke comics have been translated into 23 languages, including many European, African and Asian languages.

The Commemorative Gold Coin:

For the release of its new album in 2020, Monnaie de Paris has commemorated  Morris through a complete collection of coins and medals. This series features illustrations by Achdé, drawer of the new albums of the saga.

The Obverse of the 50 Euro Gold Coin features  the cover of Lucky Luke's new album, "A Cowboy in   High Cotton”. We find here the character of Morris and Bass Reeves, the second hero of this opus, in the middle  of a cotton field a cotton field.

The Reverse of the 50 Euro Gold Coin represents one of the most emblematic cartoon boards of the Franco-Belgian comic strip. Here, Lucky-Luke fights a duel against his own shadow and proves once again that he is indeed the fastest shooter in the west. The "75 ans" mention under the character's name celebrates the birthday of the famous cowboy. 

The Specifications of this Coin are:

Country of issue: France; Coin Theme: "Lucky Luke - A Cowboy in High Cotton"; Coin Denomination: 50 Euros; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Gold (Au); Weight: 7.780 grams; Diameter/Size: 22.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Mint: Monnaie de Paris, France; Mintage: 500 pieces; Year of Coin issue: 2021.

Posts on Coins and stamps issued by France:

 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": "Women of France Coin Series": 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:

16) The "Baroque & Rococo Era" in France : Coins feature, The Hall of Mirrors, Rococo elements of the Palace of Versailles, philosopher Voltaire and the Dancing King Louis XIV in gold & silver coins issued during 2018, under the "Europa Coin Programme"

17) George Sand: "Women of France Coin Series": Third Coin in the Series issued during 2018 by the Monnaie de Paris, France on 04.05.2018

18) "Paris, The Banks of the River Seine" ("Rivos de la Seine") : UNESCO World Heritage Site: "The Louvre Museum"(Musee du Louvre") and "Pont des Arts": Gold and Silver Euro coins issued by the Monnaie de Paris on 14.06.2018

19) Notre Dame de Paris, France "Reconstruction": Monnaie de Paris (The Paris Mint) restrikes 2013 Silver 10 Euro Coin, Bronze Medal and Silver-coloured Mini-Medal, part proceeds of which will go towards the reconstruction of the iconic Cathedral which was partially burnt in a fire on 15.04.2019

20) The Micro-Currency called - "EUSCKO" , France circulates in the French Basque Country and is the largest such currency in circulation today in the world, fully backed by the Euro; ii) It is one of 44 such micro-currencies circulating in French cities; iii) Paris is on the vetge of introducing a micro-currency.

21) Guerlain, France: A set of two stamps in the denominations of 0.97 and 1.94 Euros issued by La Poste, France: Date of Stamp Set issue: 13.01.2020

22) "Ancient Postal Routes", France: A postage stamp of 1.40 Euro issued by La Poste (French Post): Date of Stamp issue: 05.06.2020

23) "Treasures of Notre Dame Cathedral" - Reconstruction over a period of five years (2019-2024): La Poste (French Post) is issuing a series of stamps under its Stamp Series every year till completion of the project: Date of Souvenir Sheet issue: 15.04.2020

24) "Fardier de Cugnot", France: 250th Anniversary of the "Fardier a Vapeur" (1770-2020): "La Post" (French Post) has issued a postage stamp of 1.16 Euro dedicated to the French inventor who built the world's first full-size, self-propelled mechanical land vehicle, the "Fardier a vapeur": Date of Stamp issue: 19.10.2020

25) "Chateau des Ducs de Bourbon", France: La Poste, France (French Post) has issued a postage stamp of 1.16 Euro depicting the famous historic castle: Date of Stamp issue: 21.09.2020

26) Vincent van Gogh, France: "Museum Masterpieces of French Museums Coin Series": A self-portrait depicted on Gold (50 Euros) and Silver (10 Euros) Coins, minted by the Monnaie de Paris (The Paris Mint): Year of Coin issue: 2020

27) Mount Olympus, Mont Saint-Michel & Mount Fuji, France: Gold and silver Coins issued by the monnaie de Paris on these UNSCO World Heritage Sites in phases during2020: Mount Olympus Coins issued on 07.07.2020

28) 600 Years of the Forbidden City China, France: "UNESCO World Heritage Sites Coin Series": Monnaie de Paris (The Paris Mint) has issued Gold (250, 50 & 5 Euro), Silver (10 Euro) and Base Metal Coins (1/4 Euro)

29) Golden Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, France: A set of four stamps of 12.00 Euro showcasing the knowhow of the Printing Press and an artistic representation of Paris: Date of Stamp issue: 19.11.2020

30) Crafts - Metal Engraver, France: "La Poste" (French Post) has issued a 1.40 Euro Postage stamp commemorating the Art of Metal Engraving: Date of stamp issue: 18.11.2020

31) "Torda Penguin", France: "Birds of the Islands Postage Stamps of 1.08 Euro issued by La Poste (French Post) featuring the Torda Penguin from the Douarnenez Bay: Date of Stamp issue: 11.01.2021

32) Endangered Birds of Martinique, Guadaloupe and Reunion Islands & Brittany, France: Postage Stamps issued by La Poste (French Post) depicting these birds: Date of Stamps issue: 23.12.2020

33) "Mosaique de Paysages: (Typical French Landscapes), France: La Poste (French Post) has issued a Booklet of 12 Stamps depicting typical Landscapes of 12 French Regions: Date of Stamp set issue: 05.01.2021

34) "Lucky Luke - A Cowboy in High Cotton," France: A 50 Euro Gold Coin issued by Monnaie de Paris (The Paris Mint) depicting Lucky Luke shooting his own shadow: Year of Coin issue: 2021