Starting in 2020, Monnaiede Paris will retrace the history of American Independence through a collectionof coins. The designs of the coins are directly inspired by historical productspublished by Monnaiede Paris: old medals from our archives. This sub-theme is part of the Great Dates of Humanity theme which began in 2019 with the fall of the Berlin Wall, the First Step on the Moon and the Dday.
In 2020, Monnaie de Paris began the series “History of US Independency" with the arrival of La Fayette in Boston.
This year, we have decided to represent Libertas Americana.
On the obverse, we can perceive France, symbolised by Minerva, helmeted and armed with a spear, protecting the British leopard, thanks to her shield decorated with three lilies, and young America in the guise of Hercules as a child, seated in his swaddling clothes on a shield (representing the military origin of the new nation), choking two snakes, which refer to the victories over the armies of Generals Burgoyne at Saratoga and Cornwallis at Yorktown.
The legend, taken from Book III of Horace's Odes, means 'the brave child was helped by the gods’.
It also reads "17 / 19 OCT. 1777. /1781.". The signature "DUPRÉ F." is engraved under the leopard's tail, which is placed between its legs as a sign of cowardice.
The year 2023 and "RF" are also present.
The reverse side depicts "Liberty", the left profile bust of a slender young woman, an American representation of Liberty. Her unbound hair fluttering in the wind, a staff topped by the cap of liberty resting on her right shoulder. She inspired Galle to engrave "French Liberty" for the monetary proof in 1792.Under the bust, one can see the signature of "DUPRÉ".
In exergue, one can read the date in French "4 JUIL.1776.". The hallmarks and the face value are also visible.
