2016-03-23 Wed

On 21st March, The Monnaie de Paris released the first issue in a multiyear program to honour historic women. The series began with Clotilde. Born circa 474, Clotilde was a princess of Burgundy, daughter of Burgundian king Chilperic II and niece of his assassin, the subsequent king, Gondebaud.

Two coins are being issued for each woman; both will share the same designs but will be struck in different sizes, metals and denominations namely a Proof .900 fine silver €10 coin and a Proof .920 fine gold €50 coin. Instead of a hammered effect, the new series will bear textile patterns representative of the time depicted. The official issue price is €55 for the silver coin and €480 for the gold coin.

The obverse features a portrait of Clotilde, presented with an aureole around her head. The reverse shows Clovis’ baptism with its date, and the background surface also carries a textile pattern, but differing from the obverse pattern.

Queen Mathilda and Joan of Arc are going to be featured on the next releases from this series.