France Great War–Jubilation 10 Euro Named Most Historically Significant COTY dated 2018
A French coin commemorating the end of World War I is in the running for the 2020 Coin of the Year award. The Monnaie De Paris’ 2018 FR France Silver €10 Great War Colorized (Peoples’ Jubilation) won the COTY’s Most Historically Significant category.
The category is devoted to coins commemorating events, institutions or individuals deemed highly significant in terms of the historical heritage of a people, a country or mankind. The subject or theme must have passed into a historical perspective at least 100 years ago.
The Monnaie De Paris launched its “Men and Women in the Great War” series in 2014 to commemorate the centennial of World War I. The series centers on the experiences of the men who fought at the front and the women who supported them at the back during World War I.
The Peoples’ Jubilation coin commemorates the 1918 Armistice, which was signed on November 11, 1918. It marked the end of combats of the Great War (1914-1918), the victory of the allies. The coin is unique in that the obverse and the reverse form the same drawing. The silver version is also colored.
On the obverse, jubilation is portrayed by a parade of allied troops acclaimed by the crowd who has come to honor them. The French, British and American flags are displayed; these flags, as well as the Poppy and Cornflower, are colored on the silver version.
On the reverse, the celebration continues on the other side of the Arc de Triomphe, which also emphasizes the reunification of soldiers with their families. The background depicts several other allies: New-Zealanders, Canadians and Australians. In the foreground, a soldier meets again his family. A pattern of « PEACE » words forms the path the soldiers are taking.
The proof coin has a face value of 10 Euros. It has a diameter of 37.000 mm and weighs 22.2 grams. Mintage of the coin was limited to 1,918 coins, and it is sold out at the Monnaie De Paris.