France: New collector coin series entitled “The Art of the Pen” launches with a salute to poet Jean La Fontaine

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The Monnaie de Paris has launched a new collector coin series entitled “L’Art de la Plume” (“The Art of the Pen”) focusing on literary styles and authors who have become part of literary history in France and abroad. This year, the series debuts with a focus on French poetry and also celebrates the 400th anniversary of the birth of noted 17th-century author Jean La Fontaine. Considered one of France’s greatest storytellers, La Fontaine was a member of the French Academy and through his texts and surviving works, la Fontaine still fascinates his readers today by focusing on the characteristics of animals in order to represent the major character traits of men.

La Fontaine’s first collection of Fables Choisies made its first appearance on the 31st March 1668, dividing 124 fables into six books over its two volumes. They were dedicated to Monseigneur Louis, le Grand Dauphin, the six-year-old son of King Louis XIV of France and his queen consort Maria Theresa of Spain. Throughout his literary career, la Fontaine left a literary heritage of more than 240 fables as well as numerous collections of tales and poems.

Designed by senior engraver and artist Joachim Jimenez of the Monnaie de Paris, the obverse side includes a depiction of La Fontaine in profile. Artistically integrated into La Fontaine’s hair and around his face are images of the animals he wrote of and includes the frog, the ox, the stork, the wolf, the crow, the fox, the cicada, the ant, and finally, the turtle. Below the image of La Fontaine is a depiction of the castle of Vaux-le-Vicomte, a nod to his friendship with Nicolas Fouquet, the then owner of the castle. To the right and along the upper edge is a stylised scripted text which reads JEAN DE LA FONTAINE, along with the years 1621 and 1695 separated by a small insignia of the Château-Thierry, his birthplace, and which inspired him to write about the animals in his fables. The design is struck in high-relief on the 20-euro denomination.

The design on the reverse side is common to the series and features several emblematic quotes from prominent writers in their own native language. Such as Le mieux est l’ennemi du bien (“The best is the enemy of the good”) by Voltaire, Lasciate ogne speranza voi ch’intrate (“Leave all hope you who enter)” by Dante Alighieri, To be or not to be, that is the question by William Shakespeare, and Was mich nicht umbringt, macht mich stärker (“What does not kill me, makes me stronger”) by Nietzsche. A quill pen is depicted in the centre with the denomination and title of the series L’Art de la Plume is shown just to the right. The initials RF are seen below the denomination which represents the issuing country REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE.

Denom.	Metal	Weight	Diameter	Quality	Maximum Mintage
10 euro	.999 Silver	22.2 g	37 mm	Proof	3,000
20 euro	.999 Silver	31.1 g	37 mm	High-relief	3,000
5 euro	.999 Gold	0.5 g	11 mm	Proof	2,000
50 euro	.999 Gold	7.78 g	22 mm	Proof	500

The €10 and €20 silver, and €5 and €50 gold coins are struck to Proof quality and are available as separate items. For additional information about these coins and others available from the Monnaie de Paris, please visit their website.

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