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The Monnaie de Paris has released celebratory gold and silver coins highlighting the bicentenary anniversary of the creation of rugby, one of the most popular competitive sports in France and many other countries. This series also focuses on the international competition that will take place in France from the 8th September to the 28th October 2023. The Rugby World Cup tournament matches will take place in several cities in France, from Lille to Nice, Paris, and Toulouse. The competition is the most prestigious rugby tournament in the world and has been held every four years since 1987.
Cleverly designed as oval-shaped in reference to the rugby ball itself, both the gold and silver Proof-quality coins share the same design elements, which is the work of eminent MdP engraver Joachim Jimenez. The obverse side of the coin depicts three rugby players in profile at different times, conveying the two centuries of play and tradition over time. The first player from the left represents Thomas Webb Ellis, inventor of rugby, running with the ball under his arm and the year 1823 below. The second player is still running with the ball clutched to him with the year 1923 below his feet. The last player is a contemporary competitor throwing himself to the ground to score a goal and closer to the year 2023. Behind the three is the commemorative stylised inscription 200 Ans du Rugby.
The reverse side features the Webb Ellis Cup, which is shown as an outline and centred. On the left of the cup is the official logo of the Rugby World Cup France 2023, and to the lower right, the initials RF (“Republique Francaise”). To the right of the trophy is the denomination 500 EURO or 10 EURO (silver), or 200 EURO (gold). The primary design is surrounded by the commemorative stylised text COUPE DU MONDE RUGBY FRANCE 2023 (“Rugby World Cup France 2023”).
| Denom. | Metal | Weight | Dimensions | Quality | Mintage Limit |
| 10 euro | .999 Silver | 14.7 g | 38 x 24 mm | Proof | 5,000 |
| 500 euro | .999 Silver | 1,000 g | 123.6 x 83.2 mm | Brilliant Unc. | 200 |
| 200 euro | .999 Gold | 31.1 g | 38 x 24 mm | Proof | 250 |
Available from the 14th September, each coin is specially encapsulated to accommodate their unusual shape and presented in a custom case accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. Each option is available as a separate purchase. For more information, please click here for the gold coin, here for the silver coin, or here for the silver kilo coin.
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I do not understand what is new. We knew about this coin, wonderful coin, from July releases!! So nothing new, an empty date on monnaie de Paris numismatic programme.
In your opinion other mints are going to issue rugby coins in this period or not??
Hello Giovanni,
The Monnaie de Paris did unveil this range of coins earlier in the year but it is only now that they have become available – and this is what I wanted our readers to know.
I think it may be unlikely other countries will release coins for Rugby’s world cup unless it’s their team that wins the tournament. The MdP has covered most of the demand for collector coins for the tournament, I think they will now continue their attentions to the Olympic Games for next year.