France: Final Annual Gold And Silver Proof Olympiad Coins Released Featuring The Olympic Torch Relay

The 2024-dated coins are the last releases in a four-year series commencing in 2021 featuring Olympic-themed designs and featuring Parisian landmarks and symbols. The XXXIII Olympiad which is hosted in the city of Paris is expected to be quite a spectacular event, as many Parisian landmarks and familiar sights will serve as venues for the games and tournaments. As a special concession to French Overseas territories, the sailing events will take place in Tahiti, French Polynesia. Having previously hosted in 1900 and 1924, Paris will become the second city, after London - who were the hosts in 1908, 1948 and 2012 to host the Summer Olympics on three separate occasions.

During the games, there will be a total of 206 countries representing their National Olympic Committees with more than 10,500 athletes competing in 32 sports categories over 329 events. The opening ceremony is just under two months away when the Parade of nations will take part in the Jardins du Trocadéro Stadium located in the 16^th arrondissement of Paris on the 26^th July. Thereafter the Games will be underway for two weeks, the closing ceremony is scheduled to take place on the 11^th August at which time, the official Olympic flag will pass to representatives from the City of Los Angeles, California who will host the 2028 Olympiad. It is estimated that 15 million visitors will travel to Paris during the Games, including two million visitors from abroad.

The last in the series of annual Olympic-themed coins launched in 2021 is designed by Monnaie de Paris Senior engraver Joaquin Jimenez. His obverse side design which is shared on all options depicts the female allegorical figure of Marianne, national symbol of the French Republic. She is shown as in motion holding the Olympic torch of the Paris 2024 Games. The flame's movement at the top of the torch symbolises the passionate spirit and determination of the athletes. In the background, an athletics track stretches out, as a reminder of sport. Just under the flame is the commemorative text RELAIS DE LA FLAMME OLYMPIQUE. Along the lower right rim is the additional inscription XXXIIIe OLYMPIADE – PARIS 2024.

*Shown on the 10 EURO silver and the 500 EURO 5 ounce gold coin, a special iridescent effect is applied to the flame. This is a technical innovation consisting of a multitude of facets engraved in the tool itself, which is then transferred to the coin’s surface during the striking process, creating a unique visual effect. The process is further highlighted when the coin is tilted under a natural source of light and the flame is refracted through tiny incisions, producing an iridescent rainbow that accentuates the details of the design and adds a spectacular dimension of colour to the coin.

The reverse design which is common to all coins the series since 2021 depicts an aerial view of Paris where the Seine is shown to resemble an athletics track. The Eiffel Tower dominates the city and illuminates the competition along with the official Paris 2024 Olympic logo placed above the primary design. In the middle are the letters RF representing REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE and just under this is the coins’ denomination from ¼ to 500 EURO.

Both the copper-plated steel and silver BU coins are encapsulated and included in a colourful folder with illustrations and text detailing the Olympic Games in Paris. The €10 silver and €50 gold proof coins are encapsulated and presented in a heavy-gauge custom card case accompanied with a numbered certificate of authenticity. The five-ounce €500 gold proof coin is encapsulated and presented in a black-gloss resin custom case and accompanied with a numbered certificate of authenticity. For more information on the entire four-year collection, please visit the e-webshop of the Monnaie de Paris.

The ¼ Euro coin is available from May 15th 2024

10€ Silver: From June 6th 2024

¼ oz. 50€ Gold: From June 6th 2024

5 oz. 500€ Gold: From June 6th 2024

7.50€ Silver: From June 27th 2024