Museums masterpieces, Mona Lisa and The Victory of Samothrace
Museums masterpieces, Mona Lisa and The Victory of Samothrace
Monnaie de Paris is celebrating the phenomenal productivity of pictorial art in France for several centuries by unveiling a series that pays tribute to the masterpieces of French museums.
In 2019, Leonardo da Vinci and Pythocritos are honored with Mona Lisa and the Victory of Samothrace, both from the Louvre Museum.
In 2019, Leonardo da Vinci and Pythocritos are honored with Mona Lisa and the Victory of Samothrace, both from the Louvre Museum.
Mona Lisa
Mona Lisa
Mona Lisa silver coins are available in two formats. The 10€ silver coin is rectangular and colorized, thus getting closer to the original work of Leonardo da Vinci.
A hight relief struck
A hight relief struck
The 20€ silver coin is struck in high relief. Part of the frame of the painting appears in the background with the name of the work and its author, while the mention "500 ans" refers to the anniversary of the death of the Italian genius, disappeared in 1519.
The Victory of Samothrace
The Victory of Samothrace
On the face of the Victory of Samothrace coins, we find the famous sculpture of Niké, the goddess of Victory in ancient Greece. The columns in the background refer to the room in which the sculpture is exhibited at the Louvre Museum, but also to those of the Parthenon.
FRENCH MUSEUMS
FRENCH MUSEUMS
The reverse is common to the series. It depicts several views of many major French museums. An interior view of the musée d’Orsay, on the top left. Beside that is a view of the façade of the Louvre. Below these two elements, a fresco shows the Picasso Museum. The lower portion of the reverse side features a view of the façade of Rodin Museum, and above, the famous Centre Pompidou stairway.
THE KILO GOLD COIN, A SPECIAL COIN...
THE KILO GOLD COIN, A SPECIAL COIN...
The obverse depicts the portrait of Mona Lisa. The reverse displays the portrait of Leonardo da Vinci with a compass, symbol of precision. Two main works of da Vinci are displayed alongside: the flying machine and the Vitruvian Man.
... IN A SPECIAL CASE
... IN A SPECIAL CASE
The coin is presented in a black lacquer case in order to enable its exposure while protecting it. A golden frame, identical to the one of the masterpiece, surrounds its cradle.
