France: Monnaie de Paris and Maison Pierre Hermé Paris create macaron-shaped coins 

The Monnaie de Paris has unveiled a unique numismatic tribute in gold and silver to one of the country’s most prominent names in traditional French pastry and the creator of the brand Maison Pierre Hermé Paris. Pierre Hermé has been described as a force within his own right who revolutionised the world of pastry. Considered an architect of taste, his creations have sublimated flavours and blended subtle tantalising textures to offer a multitude of culinary emotions and sensations. Descended from the fourth generation of talented and renowned pastry chefs from the Alsace region, Pierre Hermé also acquired some of his know-how from Gaston Lenôtre (1920-2009), founder of the Lenôtre culinary empire. Of particular interest to Hermé was the humble macaron, this small pastry he envisaged with great potential and something which became his favourite focus of culinary expression. While his dazzling career continued at Fauchon and then at Ladurée, it wasn’t long thereafter until Hermé founded the Maison Pierre Hermé Paris in 1998. In 2016, Pierre Hermé was voted the world’s best pastry chef by the Academy of World’s 50 Best Restaurants. That same year, Vanity Fair positioned him in fourth place in the list of the 50 most influential French people in the world. State accolades include the insignia of the Order of Agricultural Merit in 1996, the Knight of the Legion of Honour in 2006 and in 2019, Hermé was appointed Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters for his contributions to French gastronomy. His high standards, extraordinary creativity, and his desire to pass on his know-how in the world of Haute-Pastry had made his name synonymous with excellence and unique culinary vision.

For these traits, the Monnaie de Paris and the Maison Pierre Hermé have combined talents and design know-how to create gold and silver coins which pay homage to the flagship product of Pierre Hermé. For the first time, Monnaie de Paris has produced a three-part shaped coin which, once assembled, reproduces the illusion of the famous pastry. Created from the engraving workshop of the Monnaie de Paris’ General Engraver Joaquin Jimenez, the unique design combines the height of the product with standard weight standards for gold and silver coins, though the inside of the macaron coin is hollow. These new macaron-shaped coins are custom-produced from three blanks with two blanks cut out, then shaped and stamped to give the curved appearance specific to macarons. Another blank is cut out and hollowed out, creating the look of a crown. Its edges are then creased using a tool to reproduce the rounded appearance of the macaron ganache. This same blank is then struck to create grooves which will be used to crimp the two curved blanks. The last step is imprinting the graphic elements on each surface, which includes the instantly recognisable logos and insignias of the Maison Pierre Hermé.

On the obverse are the initials of Pierre Hermé PH, which cleverly intertwines the initials RF of the French Republic.

On the reverse is a decorative element representing salt, the pastry chef’s essential companion, along with its centred crystal representation is the face value of 200 EURO (gold), or 20 EURO (silver), along with the year 2023 and insignia of the Chief Engraver.

Denom.	Metal	Weight	Diameter	Quality	Mintage Limit
20 euro	.999 Silver	31.1 g	39 mm	Proof	5,000
200 euro	.999 Gold	46.4 g	39 mm	Proof	500

Available from the 16th November, each gold and silver coin is specially presented in a custom-crafted case accommodating the coin’s unique shape and is accompanied by a numbered certificate of authenticity. For additional information, please click here for the gold coin or here for the silver coin.

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