Monnaie de Paris launches its gold Marianne, controversy included

Monnaie de Paris launches its gold Marianne, controversy included

The French Mint has put a new series of gold coins bearing the effigy of Marianne, the national symbol, on sale. The coins, struck in 999 fine gold, are available in four sizes: 1/10, 1/4, 1/2 and 1 troy ounce. The starting price for the smallest is 419.23 euros, putting the premium over spot at around 30%, a typical markup for numismatic bullion.

But what has drawn the most attention is not the price, but the design. The Marianne depicted is geometric and, according to some analyses, departs from the classic Caucasian canon. One user pointed out that the antiestéticatures – full lips, a subtle prognathism – seem deliberately removed from the traditional figure. Others took it into political territory, interpreting it as another step in France's identity drift. "Little by little, step by step, the frog is boiled," wrote another.

Beyond aesthetics, collectors are wondering whether it is worth buying from Spain. Monnaie de Paris does ship abroad, with shipping costs starting at 15 euros within French territory. For Spain, the price goes up, although it has not been specified by how much. Past experience is not bad: in 2012, the Mint issued a 200-euro face value coin with gold content very close to spot, and Spanish buyers reported no problems. Shipping was expensive, but group orders were organised to share costs.

The open question: is this Marianne an artistic evolution or an identity battering ram? Anyone wanting to get one should know the design leaves no one indifferent.