The Monnaie de Paris took home top honors in the Coin of the Year Awards’ (COTY) Best Contemporary Coin category for 2024-dated coins. The winning coin — 10 Euro, Notre-Dame Restoration (KM#3453) — celebrates the reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral after five years of restoration and is part of the French Excellence collection.
Dating back to the 12th Century, the Notre Dame Cathedral has long been considered an architectural masterpiece and the most famous of the Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages. In 2019, the cathedral suffered a catastrophic fire. Following a massive restoration project, Notre-Dame reopened to the public on December 8, 2024.
The Notre-Dame Restoration coin is shaped like an ogival (pointed) arch, which is not only a key feature of Notre Dame Cathedral, but Gothic architecture in general.
The obverse features the Notre-Dame Cathedral in its purest form. The face value is inscribed in the facade of the cathedral, along with the year 2024.
The reverse depicts the inside or “heart” of the cathedral, including the new liturgical furniture in the nave.
The silver 10 Euro coin weighs 22.2 grams and measures 48.99 x 25.3 mm. Mintage is limited to 5,000.