2216) Jean Baptiste Poquelin (known professionally as Moliere), France: 400th Birth Anniversary (1622-2022): Monnaie de Paris (The Paris Mint) has issued Gold and Silver Coins celebrating the milestone: Year of Coins issue: 01/2022:
For posts on Moliere on this blog, please visit the following links:
France: Third coin in collector series “L’art de la Plume” continues with gold and silver Proof coins honours Molière:
The Monnaie de Paris has released its third coin which is part of its ongoing series paying tribute to historic literary figures.
The latest coins feature Jean Baptiste Poquelin, known professionally as Molière.
He is considered one of the greatest actors and playwrights of French theatre. The coins have been released on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of his birth (1622-2022).
Last year, the Monnaie de Paris launched the collector coin series entitled “L’art de la Plume” (“The Art of the Pen”), which focusses on literary styles and authors who are historical figures of literature in France and abroad.
After the theme of poetry was featured on the 2021-dated coins, with coins honouring Italian author Dante Alighieri and Jean de la Fontaine, this year’s subject highlights the theatre.
About Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (also known as "Moliere"):
The Header/Banner shows the Reverses and Obverses of the 20 Euro (Silver) and 50 Euro (Gold) Coins against a background portrait image of Moliere
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin was born on the 15th January 1622 as the son of a prosperous upholsterer, he left his home to become an actor at the age of 19.
He co-founded an acting troupe known as the "Illustre Théâtre" and toured the French provinces from 1645 until 1658, at the same time writing plays and acting in them.
After finding a permanent home for his acting troupe at a theatre in Paris, they soon caught the attention of King Louis XIV who took them under his patronage, soon attracting the acclaim of the emerging middle-classes, especially for his play titled - "The Affected Young Ladies" in 1659.
After a string of very successful productions over the next 15 years, his plays and themes were known to satirise and portray all classes of 17th-century French society, which were marked by their good-humoured and intelligent mockery of human vices, vanities, and follies.
However, one play in particular titled "Tartuffe" (“The Impostor”), first performed in 1664, was considered by the Catholic Church as an insult to religion and sought to ban its performance, burning copies of the script.
Despite both his success and setbacks as a playwright, he never ceased to act and direct. His life was cut short when he was taken ill during a performance, ironically while portraying a hypochondriac character named Argan, and died of a haemorrhage at the age of 51.
Due to the controversy over his earlier play satirising religion, he was denied a church service during his funeral.
At the request of Molière’s widow, Armande, she asked the king if her spouse could be buried in secret at night. He agreed and Molière’s body was buried in a part of the cemetery reserved for unbaptised infants.
His remains were later brought to the museum of French monuments in 1792, and later transferred to Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris in 1817, close to those of the French poet La Fontaine.
The Coins:
The Obverse of the Gold and Silver Coin Variants includes a three-quarter facing portrait of Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known as Molière.
His right hand pushes back the stage curtain, which also artistically merges with the actor’s hair.
To the right of the portrait, two of his most emblematic characters are also illustrated, namely the Bourgeois Gentilhomme and the Miser, along with an image of the theatre Comédie Française.
To the left of the portrait and along the edge is stylised script denoting his stage name with the years of Moliere’s birth and death dates, which are separated by a small sun, representative of the patronage of King Louis XIV.
The year 2022 is shown just under and to the right of the primary design.
The Reverse of the Gold and Silver Coin is common to the Series features several emblematic quotes from prominent writers in their own native language:
Such as "Le mieux est l’ennemi du bien" (“The best is the enemy of the good”) by Voltaire, "Lasciate ogne speranza voi ch’intrate" (“Leave all hope you who enter”) by Dante Alighieri, "To be or not to be, that is the question" by William Shakespeare and "Was mich nicht umbringt, macht mich stärker" (“What does not kill me, makes me stronger”) by Nietzsche.
A quill pen is depicted in the centre with the denomination and title of the Coin Series "L’Art de la Plume" is shown just to the right.
The initials "RF" are seen below the denomination which represents the issuing country "REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE".
i) The specifications of the 10 Euro Silver Coin Variant are:
Country of issue: Republic of France (Republique Francaise); Year: 2022; Denomination/Face Value: 10 Euros; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 22.20 grams; Diameter/Size: 37.00 mm; Coin Quality: Proof (P); Mintage: 3,000 pieces; Presentation Box/Case: Yes; Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Yes.
ii) The specifications of the 20 Euro Silver Coin Variant are:
Country of issue: Republic of France (Republique Francaise); Year: 2022; Denomination/Face Value: 20 Euros; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 31.107 grams or 1.00 Oz; Diameter/Size: 37.00 mm; Coin Quality: Proof (P); Mintage: 3,000 pieces; Presentation Box/Case: Yes; Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Yes.
iii) The specifications of the 5 Euro Gold Coin Variant are:
Country of issue: Republic of France (Republique Francaise); Year: 2022; Denomination/Face Value: 5 Euros; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Gold (Au); Weight: 0.50 grams; Diameter/Size: 11.00 mm; Coin Quality: Proof (P); Mintage: 2,000 pieces; Presentation Box/Case: Yes; Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Yes.
iv) The specifications of the 50 Euro Gold Coin Variant are:
Country of issue: Republic of France (Republique Francaise); Year: 2022; Denomination/Face Value: 50 Euros; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Gold (Au); Weight: 7.78 grams; Diameter/Size: 11.00 mm; Coin Quality: Proof (P); Mintage: 500 pieces; Presentation Box/Case: Yes; Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Yes.
The €10 and €20 Silver, and €5 and €50 Gold Coins are struck to Proof quality and are available as separate items.
Links to other posts on Metropolis Tiffany Art Coin Series:
Ashok Borate has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very nice information👌"
Thank you Ashokji.
DeleteRajan Trikha has commented:
ReplyDelete"Excellent Post."
Thank you Trikha sahab.
DeleteSantosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very Nice".
Thank you, Khanna sahab.
Delete