France: First series of Olympic-themed gold and silver coins released in celebration of Paris 2024

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The Monnaie de Paris has released new collector coins which are in celebration of the XXXIII Olympiad, to be hosted in three years in Paris, France. It is the first time two new euro gold and silver coins are designed in a hexagonal shape. It was the passing of the Olympic flag during the closing ceremony of the Games in Tokyo that marked the starting point of a new era of French Games. 2021 is also the first release of a four-year project where sport and its values will be presented through the collections of coins and medallions designed and struck by the Monnaie de Paris.

The Summer Olympic Games return to France after a 100-year absence and since the city of Paris last hosted the games in 1924. On the occasion of the Paris 2024 Summer Games, the new series of coins pay tribute to this renowned international competition through a collection of gold and silver coins highlighting sport, its values, the athletes, and the country’s heritage. Paris first played host to the modern Olympic Games in 1900, just four years their debut in Athens in 1896. In 1924, the VIII Olympiad was hosted for the second time in Paris and became the first country to host the Games a second time. The VIII Olympiad was also the last one organised under the presidency of Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic movement.

The games are scheduled to take place from the 26th July to the 11th August 2024 followed by the inauguration of the Paralympic Games, which commences on the 28th August to the 8th September. In total, The 2024 Summer Olympic program is scheduled to feature 32 sports encompassing 329 events and with two additional events in sport climbing but four fewer events in weightlifting compared to the 2020 program. Many of the Olympic events will be held in and around well-known Parisian venues, including the metropolitan suburbs with additional cities of Lille, Marseille, taking part as well as Teahupo’o, a village in French Polynesia which will host surfing events. The football tournaments will be hosted in six cities around France, though the locations are yet to be named.

The obverse side of the coins, which is shared along the range of gold, silver, and bi-metallic €2 pieces depicts the well-known allegorical female figure of Marianne as she races along a track and overlooking the athletics stadium of the Games. Behind the eager athlete, is the Eiffel Tower in the background, symbolising the city of Paris. To the left of Marianne is the official insignia of the Paris 2024 Games and below the primary design are the initials RF (Republique Francaise) and the year of issue, 2021.

The reverse side includes the geometrical design of shapes arranged in different positions creating a series of borders that encircle the text LIBERTE EGALITE FRATERNITE and a laurel wreath of sprigs of olive and oak branches. The denomination of EURO 250 (gold) or EURO 10 (silver) is arranged in the centre.

Denom.	Metal	Weight	Diameter	Quality	Maximum Mintage
Two euro	Bi-metallic	8.5 g	25.7 mm	Brilliant Unc.	500,000
Two euro	Bi-metallic	8.5 g	25.7 mm	Proof	10,000
10 euro	.500 Silver	17 g	31 mm	FDC	100,000
250 euro	.999 Gold	3 g	18 mm	Proof	15,000

The Brilliant Uncirculated €2 coins are presented in a coin-card format in five different colours with a mintage of 100,000 pieces each. For additional information about these coins and other Olympic-related coins available from the Monnaie de Paris, please visit their website.

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