The Great French ships series continues to sail full steam ahead with the newest release in the series by the French Mint.
The latest addition to the series, which has been running since 2012, is the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.
Named after famed French WWII General, statesman and former President of the French Republic Charles de Gaulle(1890 – 1970), born Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle. The Charles du Gaulle is the French Navy's flagship and the largest warship currently in commission in western Europe. She also holds the distinction of being the French Navy's(Marine Nationale) first nuclear powered surface vessel.
France 2016 Charles de Gaulle Gold 50 Euro Coin Obverse
The series releases three variants of the same design. These are a 1/4oz gold 50 Euro coin, a 5oz silver 50 Euro and a silver 10 Euro coin to complete the trio. Each year three separate designs are released in the same manner. The Charles du Gaulle is the second issue of 2016, with the “Belém” having already been released and the 'Ile de France' planned for later in the year.
The 1/4oz gold €50 coin is struck from .920 fineness gold(920/1000), measures 22mm for a total of 8.45 gram. It has a limited mintage of only 500 coins. The coin is listed on the Monnaie de Paris website for €505.00.
France 2016 Great Fench Ships Silver 50 Euro Coin Reverse
The massive 5oz €50 silver coin is struck from .900 Fineness silver(900/1000) with a diameter of 50mm and weighs in at 163.8grams. This coin has limited mintage only 250 coins. The 5oz coin can currently be obtained from the Monnaie de Paris website for €435.00.
By far the most modest, and affordable, of the three coins is the silver €10 commemorative Charles du Gaulle coin. Similar to it's larger 5oz brother the crown size(37mm) coin is struck from .900 Fineness silver and tips the scales at 22grams. The €10 incarnation will have a limited mintage of 3000 coins.
France 2016 Charles de Gaulle Gold 50 Euro Coin Reverse
As mentioned already all the coins have a shared design. The obverse depicts an image looking up at the Charles du Gaulle from a low angle. The name of the ship inscribed on the water below. A Dassault Rafale multi-role fighter jet is seen flying overhead, with the outline of a second Rafale just passing over the ship in the background.
The reverse design is shared not only by all three coins but by the entire series. The design prominently features the coin's denomination at it's center(50 or 10 EUROS). Just below that can be seen the outline of 5 different types of naval vessels, in profile. The date is framed at the bottom by a curved anchor chain. At the top the legend reads “LES GRANDS NAVIRES FRANCAIS”(Great French Ships).
The Great French Ships commemorative coin series from the French Mint(Monnaie de Paris) is a five year program set to conclude in 2016.
