French Euro Coins




France was one of the founding members of the Euro zone and started issuing coins in 2002. French Euro Coins - particularly the Commemoratives - provide a wealth of information regarding French history and famous Frenchmen, past and present.

Some basic facts relating to France.




Normal Currency Coins.


Three motifs are used for French Euro Coins - one for the "copper coloured coins"(1 cent, 2 cent and 5 cent), one for the "gold coloured coins" (10 cent, 20 cent and 50 cent) and finally one for the one Euro and two Euro coins.


The first motif (1,2 and 5 cent coins) is a young Marianne with a determined look who symbolizes a strong lasting Europe.

The second motif (10,20 and 50 cent coins) shows a sower before the rising sun - she gives a sense of continuity, having been long associated with the old French Franc and appearing on previous French coins and stamps.

The third motif (1 and 2 Euro coins) is a stylized tree appearing in a hexagon and represents life and growth. The words "Liberté,Egalité,Fraternité"(Liberty,Equality,Fraternity) - the motto of the French Republic since the revolution also appear.



French 1 cent coin


1 cent - Marianne symbolizing a strong lasting Europe.





2 cent - Marianne symbolizing a strong lasting Europe.

French 5 cent coin


5 cent - Marianne symbolizing a strong lasting Europe.





10 cent - Sower before the rising sun.

French 20 cent coin


20 cent - Sower before the rising sun.






French 50 cent coin


50 cent - Sower before the rising sun.






French 1 Euro €  coin


1 Euro - A stylized tree representing life and growth.





French 2 Euro € coin


2 Euro - A stylized tree representing life and growth.





Two Euro Coin Rim


Around the rim of the Two Euro Coin appear the number "2" followed by "**".
This is repeated six times so that the "12-Star" European motif is represented. Each "2" is inverted with respect to the preceding and following "2".





French Commemorative Two Euro Coins.


France delayed for quite a while before issuing commemorative coins but has made up for the delay by issuing since 2010 the maximum permissable, so that now April 2020 we have 23 French Commemoratives with another due later this year - thank you France!



French Commemorative Coin 2008 French Presidency of EU

2008 - French presidency of the European Union for 2008.


Date of issue     :01.07.2008

Issuing Volume : 20,1 Million


French Commemorative Coin 2010  de Gaulle French Resistance

2010 - 70th anniversary of de Gaulle's appeal to the French to continue the struggle against the Nazis.

Date of issue     :June 2010

Issuing Volume : 20 Million


French Commemorative Coin 2011 - Fetze de la Musique

2011 - 30th anniversary of the "Fête de la Musique"-Every summer solstice since 1981 France has celebrated a "Day of Music".

Date of issue     :21.06.2011

Issuing Volume : 10 Million


French Commemorative Coin 2012 - Abbé Pierre

2012 - 100th birthday of Abbé Pierre - a popular catholic priest who founded the charity organization Emmaus.


Date of issue     :July 2012

Issuing Volume : 1 Million


French Commemorative Coin 2013 - Treaty of Élysèe joint issue

2013 - Joint issue with Germany, commemorating the Treaty of Élysée.


Date of issue     :January 2013

Issuing Volume : 10 Million


French Commemorative Coin 2013 - Pierre de Coubertin - Modern Olympic Games.

2013 - 150th birthday of Pierre de Coubertin.

Date of issue     :03.06.2013

Issuing Volume : 1,020,000


French Commemorative Coin 2014 - Landings in Normandy

2014 - 70th Anniversary of the Allied Landings in Normandy.

Date of issue     :11.06.2014

Issuing Volume : 3,020,000


French Commemorative Coin 2014 - World Aids Day

2014 - World Aids Day.


Date of issue     :24.11.2014

Issuing Volume : 3,020,000


French Commemorative Coin 2015

2015 - 70 Years of Peace in Europe.



Date of issue     :02.02.2015

Issuing Volume : 4,000,000


French Commemorative Coin 2015 - Founding of the Republic

2015 - 225th Anniversary of the Founding of the Republic.



Date of issue     :10.07.2015

Issuing Volume : 4,000,000


French Commemorative Coin 2016 - European Football Championship

2016 - French hosting of the European football championship.


Date of issue     :05.02.2016

Issuing Volume : 10,000,000


French Commemorative Coin 2016 - Francois Mitterrand

2016 - 100 th Anniversary of the birth of Francois Mitterrand.


Date of issue     :12.09.2016

Issuing Volume : 10,000,000


French Commemorative Coin 2017 - Auguste Rodin

2017 - 100th Anniversary of the death of Auguste Rodin.


Date of issue     : 03.02.2017

Issuing Volume : 10,020,500


French Commemorative Coin 2017 - Brest Cancer Awareness

2017 - 25 years of Brest Cancer Awareness.



Date of issue     :25.09.2017

Issuing Volume : 10,020,000


French Commemorative Coin 2018 - Corn Flower

2018 - Corn Flower.



Date of issue     :19.02.2018

Issuing Volume : 15,000,000


2018 - In honour of Simone Veil - a leading figure in the women's rights movement in France.

Date of issue     :26.06.2018

Issuing Volume : 15,020,500


2019 - 60th Anniversary of the creation comic chatacter Asterix.


Date of issue     :06.06.2019

Issuing Volume : 310,000


2019 - This coin commemorates 30 years since the opening of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

Date of issue     : 10.10.2019

Issuing Volume : 15 Million


2020 - This coin commemorates Charles de Gaulle.


Date of issue     : 31.01.2020

Issuing Volume : 18,061,940


2020 - This coin is devoted to Medical Research.


Date of issue     : 27.10.2020

Issuing Volume : 310,000


2021 - 75th Anniversary of the founding of UNICEF


Date of issue     : 18.03.2021

Issuing Volume : 7,500,000


2021 - 1st coin in a series of four to celebrate the planed hosting of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Date of issue     : 21.09.2021

Issuing Volume : 510,000


2022 - 90th Anniversary of Jacque Chirac's birth.



Date of issue     : 25.01.2022

Issuing Volume : 9,000,000




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