80th anniversary of D-Day

80th anniversary of D-DAY

The D-Day landings on 6 June 1944 were a decisive turning point in the Second World War: the Liberation of France and Europe began on the beaches of Normandy. 80 years on, the Monnaie de Paris is paying tribute to the nations and men who took part in the liberation of France and Europe.

To mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings, we had to find an original artistic approach. Previous anniversaries had been celebrated with rather allegorical coins bringing together all the forces in one creation; this year, we have chosen to follow 4 singular destinies through this incredible human adventure that was the D-Day.

Engraver word

Emblematic coins

The coins in this collection are dedicated to 4 soldiers from the 4 major Allied nations who landed in Normandy on 6 June 1944. They include a Frenchman on Sword Beach, an American on Omaha Beach, a British soldier on Pegasus Beach and a Canadian on Juno Beach. These 4 fictional heroes embody the stories of soldiers who actually fought during the Normandy landings. The reverse of this coin features all the Allied countries that officially took part in the Normandy landings. The stars under the flags are also a tribute to the "Road to Freedom", the milestones marking the route taken by the 3rd American Army to liberate France as far as Luxembourg.