2016-11-22 Tue

The new coins from the Monnaie de Paris celebrate the 110th anniversary of the company by honouring the French jeweller Van Cleef & Arpels. The Monnaie de Paris’ 2016 Van Cleef & Arpels coins are inspired from jewellery collections featuring butterflies, beads, quatrefoil shapes and more. The Proof .999 fine gold €5,000 coin include diamonds as well.

Established in 1906 by Alfred Van Cleef and Salomon Arpels, the Van Cleef & Arpels opened its first boutique at 22 place Vendôme. The coins feature the common design of “Two Butterflies” and uses embellishments.

A beaded edge is included on the edge of the obverse, inspired from the Perlee collection, which Van Cleef & Arpels has issued since the 1920s. Three hands with “diamonds” of various cuts (marquise, princess, brilliant) refer to the “Golden Hands” style. RF initials of the French Republic, the year date, and the horn of plenty Mint master mark of the Monnaie de Paris are also depicted on the obverse.

The reverse designs are inspired by the nature elements which first appeared on Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery in the 1940s along with a fairy.

The 1-kilogram pure gold €5,000 coin features an insert created by Van Cleef & Arpels, of a butterfly, on both sides composed of real 34 round diamonds. The obverse features the back of the butterfly and helps us understand the technique of crimping the diamonds. This coin has a mintage limit of only 11 pieces. They come is a special packaging.