France: First-ever Bi-metallic €5 Coins Launch The Astros Collection Featuring All Zodiac Star Signs

The Astros Collection is the first series that will be reissued for several years, and available towards the end of every year in time for gift-giving into the New Year. As such, the first collection is available now and dated with the year 2025 on the obverse side of each commemorative design.

Astrology has evolved into a discipline that attracts a wide audience thanks to its playful and accessible nature. It touches true followers in an intimate way and creates a sense of belonging by focusing on personality traits. Moreover, its aesthetic symbolism offers rich visual elements that can be an inexhaustible source of inspiration for artists.

For more than a thousand years, astrology as we know it has evolved over the centuries. From its Mesopotamian origins around the 3^rd millennium BC to its modern popularity, it testifies to man's abiding interest in the stars and their supposed influence on our destiny. It was the Babylonians who were among the first to observe the movements of the stars and planets, recording them on clay tablets. Over time, they developed a system of omens based on these observations, seeking to predict terrestrial events from celestial phenomena. Ultimately,Mesopotamian astrological knowledge spread to Egypt, where it was integrated with local beliefs, especially through the influence of Greek civilisation after Alexander the Great's conquest. The Greeks actually structured astrology by developing the 12-sign zodiac and creating individual horoscopes based on the position of the stars at birth. When the Romans took an interest in Astrology, the study of the stars spread throughout the Empire and survived its fall, continuing to evolve in the Middle Ages. During this period, it was integrated into university studies and expanded by Arab and European scholars, who translated Greek texts and developed new astrological techniques.

During the Renaissance, astrology was revived by a growing interest in science and human conditions. However, with the rise of rationalism and empirical science during the period of Enlightenment, it gradually lost its scientific status.From the early 20th century, astrology regained popularity, particularly with the rise of the mass media in the form of newspapers and periodicals. Horoscopes appeared in newspapers and magazines, simplifying astrological concepts for a wider audience. Although sometimes controversial, astrology continues to fascinate people all over the world and is for many a pleasurable daily pursuit.

Each design in the twelve-coin series is the work of Monnaie de Paris General engraver, Joaquin Jimenez. It is the time €5 bi-metallic coins in the Euro currency are released. Common elements of the design features a border of various astrological signs and highlights the particular insignia and stellar constellation the sign represents. The French name of the star sign is also included as part of the design.

The common reverse side features a pattern of two interlocking hexagons serving as a frame which is shown on the outer golden ring of the bi-metallic coins. The text REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE is placed above and below the wreath of maple and olive branches. Within the wreath is the denomination EURO 5. The year of authorisation 2025 is shown in a vertical direction just to the right of the denomination.

Each coin is available as a separate purchase and is housed in a card folder. The complete set is also available as one item and housed in a specially created box decorated with graphics displaying all zodiac signs in the wheel of an astrological chart on a starry sky and containing all 12 coins. As the coins are struck to a select uncirculated quality and are not encapsulated to encourage easily handling without spoiling a special finish or strike. For additional information, please visit the e-webshop of the Monnaie de Paris.