To mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings, Monnaie de Paris is minting a collection paying tribute to the soldiers of the four major Allied nations. Through four singular destinies, French commandos, British airborne troops and America...
To mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings, Monnaie de Paris is minting a collection paying tribute to the soldiers of the four major Allied nations. Through four singular destinies, French commandos, British airborne troops and American and Canadian infantrymen are honored in this historic collection.
Richard, a British Glider with the Airlanding Brigade, was part of the 6th Airborne (British and Canadian).He landed on the night of June 6, 1944, in a glider to the east of Sword Beach. Here he poses in front of Pegasus Bridge after the successful completion of Operation Deadstick. The glider in which he landed is in the background under the trees.
On the night of June 5-6, 1944, during Operation Tonga, units of the 6th Division were the first to fight in the Normandy landings. They were dropped by gliders and parachuted behind Sword Beach to secure the eastern flank of the Allied landing zone. Their objectives included the capture of Pegasus Bridge and the bridge over the River Orne, as well as the destruction of the Merville battery - all of which were achieved. Operation Tonga continued with the parachuting of further divisional units to hold the sector and counter German counter-offensives.
The reverse of these coins depicts a spiral of all the Allied nations that took part in the landings, whether on land, sea or in the air. The stars under the flags are also a tribute to the Liberty Road, the milestones marking the route taken by the 3rd American Army to liberate France, as far as Luxembourg.
Our craftman
THE ENGRAVER
Trained at the best schools, they have the years of experience behind them necessary to master all aspects of the craft. Using industrial oil-based modelling clay and working from a design executed freehand or with CAD software, they skilfully fashion a low relief model in order to enhance the engraving and the way it catches the light. They work alternately with concave and convex plaster moulds until satisfied they have achieved the best 3D rendering of the design.
THE MINTER
The first minters began to ply their trade in France when striking with a hammer appeared in the 4th century BC. Nowdays, minsters use press instead of a hammer. Their knowledge of dies, engraving and metals, and their expertise - passed seamlessly down from one generation to the next for centuries - guarantees the excellence of their work.
