3805) Two Artworks of Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606 – 1669) one of the great masters of Dutch painting, France: Monnaie de Paris (The Paris Mint) has issued €10 and €250 silver and €50 gold coins featuring two of his works: Date/Year of Coins issue: 04.03.2025:
Gold and silver Proof Coins Brings Together Two Inseparable Works of Art by Rembrandt
The Monnaie de Paris release proof and colour coins featuring artwork displayed in the renowned Louvre Museum.
Once the palace of kings, the Louvre has been at the heart of French history for eight centuries.
Conceived as what has become a universal museum from its creation in 1793, its collections, among the finest in the world, span several millennia and a territory that stretches from America to the frontiers of Asia.
In 2025, two inseparable portraits by Rembrandt are featured on the latest gold and silver collector coins.
Jointly acquired in 2016 by the Louvre Museum and the Rijksmuseum, the new coins offer a unique opportunity to bring them together on a single frame in honour of their return to the galleries of the Parisian museum for the next five years.
The Coins:
Painted in 1634, these two life-size portraits are among the great artworks of Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606 – 1669) one of the great masters of Dutch painting.
At 28 years of age, the artist was in the prime of his career, as shown by these portraits which bear witness to the union of Marten Soolmans (1613–1641) and Oopjen Coppit (1611–1689) the heiress of one of the wealthiest families of the economic capital of the United Provinces in the Netherlands.
In June of 1633, Maerten, the son of a refugee from Antwerp, married Oopjen Coppit, whose hand in marriage was one of the most sought-after in the city and although her dowry was a princely sum of 35,000 Guilders, it was believed to have been a love match.
For this prestigious commission one year after their marriage, Rembrandt creates a dialogue between the two portraits by introducing a sign of movement.
The groom, sure of himself and his place in high society holds out his glove, a sign of fidelity, to his new wife who descends a stair towards him.
A large curtain in the background unifies the two paintings, just like the light that falls harshly on Maerten’s right shoulder and more softly on Oopjen’s large lace collar.
The young couple are befittingly dressed as befits a pair of wealthy newlyweds in Amsterdam.
It is extraordinary that the identity of the two young people remained unknown and the paintings were known simply as the ‘Portrait of Meneer Day’ and ‘Portrait of Mevrouw Day’ for over a hundred years and were only properly identified in the 20th century.
The portraits were in the possession of the subjects' heirs until their initial sale in 1877.
They ultimately became the only known life-size portraits painted by Rembrandt during his expansive career, a style then reserved for the highest of European nobility and most likely reflected the couple's desire to assert their increasing social status.
Although painted individually, the portraits themselves are fortunate to have never been separated since the 17th century.
Under an extraordinary cultural agreement between the governments of France and the Netherlands, who acquired the artwork jointly in 2016 from the collection of Baron Eric de Rothschild for the grand price of €80 million Euros each.
After acquisition, both portraits were moved to the Rijksmuseum’s conservation workshop for restoration.
According to the agreement signed by the Louvre and the Rijksmuseum, the works must always be shown together, alternately at either institution. Marten and Oopjen were first exhibited at the Rijksmuseum and then made their way to the Louvre for the following 5 years.
Thereafter, they will be exhibited in the Rijksmuseum again and the Louvre alternately for eight years at a time and may not be lent to other institutions.
From the 21st of February this year, the couple return to the Louvre, and can be admired again by the public in the Rijksmuseum from 2029.
The Reverse of the gold and Silver coins depicts the portraits of the groom on the left and the bride on the right. Their names "MARTEN SOOLMANS & OOPJEN COPPIT", the name of the painter "REMBRANDT" and year of release, "2025" are placed in a vertical direction and positioned between the two portraits.
The edge of the coin is decorated with the design and elements of the original matching frames of the portraits, above is an image of the Louvre and below, an image of the Rijksmuseum. The silver proof 10 euro and 250 euro silver coins include colour on the obverse side to further enhance the designs of the portraits.
The Obverse side which is common to the entire collection, depicts an instantly recognisable representation of the Louvre Pyramid and the stately building itself.
Inside the pyramid, is a key work of the museum that of the winged Victory of Samothrace.
To the right of the sculpture is the denomination of the coin and to the left are the initials "RF" representing "REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE". The text "LOUVRE" is shown below the sculpture within the pyramid in stylised letters.
The personal insignia of the coin’s artist, Joaquin Jimenez of the Monnaie de Paris is shown just to the lower right corner and within the pyramid.
The specifications of these Coins are:
Denomination Metal Weight Dimensions Quality Mintage Limit
10 Euro .999 Silver 22.2 g. 29.1 / 38 mm. Proof & Colour 3000
250 Euro .925 Silver 500 g. 69 / 90 mm. Proof & Colour 250
50 Euro .999 Gold 7.78 g. 17.7 / 23 mm. Proof 300
- Available from the 4th March, The €10 and €250 silver and €50 gold coins are specially encapsulated and presented in custom Monnaie de Paris branded cases accompanied with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA).
- Each coin option is available as a separate item.
Links:
1) For more on the Olympics and Paralympics held in the past, including the origins and history of the Olympics and Commemorative coins issued both on London Olympics and Paralympics please read my post on the London Olympics 2012 link as follows: History of the ancient & modern Olympics and Paralympics & commemorative coins issued during the London Olympics and Paralympics
4) For Rio 2016, please click on the following link to get interesting insights into the mascots of the Rio Olympics Vinicius and Tom, the Games and the Commemorative Coins and stamps issue programme: 1)The 31st Summer Olympics "Rio 2016"2) Commemorative Stamps and booklets issued by the Department of Posts, India on 05.08.2016
5) For Ancient Olympic Games on Greek Coins of Antiquity, please click on the following link: Ancient Olympic Games on Greek Coins of Antiquity
6) For a set of Post cards titled "Olympic Events" : please click on the following link: "Olympic Events": A set of 12 Post Cards issued by the Karnataka Postal Circle, India Post on 11.07.2016
7) For a presentation set of two stamps titled "Spirit of Olympics, Athens, Atlanta" please visit the following link: Spirit of the Olympic Games, Athens-Atlanta: Celebrating the Centenary of the Modern Olympic Games
8) For a presentation set of four stamps titled "XXVIII Olympic Games" (2004 Summer Olympics Athens, Greece, please visit the following link: XVIII Summer Olympic Games, Athens Greece (2004)
9) For a presentation set of two stamps titled "XXIX Olympic Games" (2008 Summer Olympics, Beijing, China, please visit the following link: XXIX Olympic Games Beijing, China: 08.08.08- 24.08.08: A Presentation set of four stamps issued by India Post on 08.08.08
Links to the Mutiny on the Bounty Coins/Stamps:
Links to other posts in Metropolis Tiffany Art Coin Series:
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