Monaco. New Portrait of Sovereign Prince Features on New One and Two Euro Coins

Albert II is the Sovereign Prince of Monaco and head of the Princely House of Grimaldi since his accession in 2005. Born on the 14^th March 1958, he is the only son of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace, formerly known as Grace Kelly, an Academy-award winning actress from Hollywood. In March 2005, Hereditary Prince Albert was appointed regent after his father became ill, and succeeded as Sovereign Prince upon his father’s passing on the 6th April. Prince Rainer III’s reign was the longest in Monegasque history at just one month short of 56 years.

Prince Albert II’s official enthronement as ruler of the Principality took place on the 12th July 2005, during a morning Mass at Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Monte Carlo presided over by the Archbishop of Monaco. Unmarried at the time of his accession, Prince Albert II met Miss Charlene Wittstock, a competitive swimmer who represented the country of South Africa in the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games and at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. It was during her time as a competitive swimmer that she met Prince Albert at the Mare Nostrum swimming competition in Monte Carlo in 2000. The two made their public debut as a couple at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. The princely couple announced their engagement on the 23^rd June 2010 and on the 2^nd and 3^rd July 2011, they were married in both a civil and religious wedding – in the presence of their family, friends and dignitaries. Upon her marriage, Miss Wittstock became Her Serene Highness, Princess Charlene of Monaco. The couple joyfully announced the birth of their two children, twin son and daughter Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella on the 10^th December 2014. 

As per a long-standing customs agreement between France and Monaco since 1865, the principality’s coinage is issued with the same specifications and denominations as the French monetary system and is produced by the Monnaie de Paris. The first circulation coins to include an image of Prince Albert II were introduced into circulation in January 2002 when Monaco adopted the Euro currency along with France. He was portrayed on €1 coins along with his father in a conjoined design. A new series of coinage was introduced in 2006 which included the crest of the principality on the three smaller denominations, the Prince’s monogram on the middle three face values and an effigy of Albert II facing right on the €2 and €1 coins.

The new image of the Prince which is only included on €2 and €1 denominations was designed by chief engraver and artisan of the Monnaie de Paris, Joachim Jimenez. Albert II is seen in a front-facing portrait and is positioned slightly off-centre to the right. In the background on the right side is a diamond pattern which is seen on the princely crest and on the left of the portrait is the monogram of Albert II consisting of two intertwined A initials along with his regnal numeral of II. The year of mintage, 2025 is placed below the monogram. Along the edge on the left is the text MONACO. The primary design is encircled with 12 five-pointed stars representing the European Union.

The first release of the new series is included in a BU quality Mint set of all eight denominations from 1 euro-cent to €2 sealed in a folder with illustrations and informative text describing the coin designs. The Trésorerie Générale des Finances du Gouvernement Princier de Monaco have authorised 7000 sets.  For additional information, please visit the e-webshop of Maison Gadoury Numismatique, official distributors.