Weekly World Mint Coinage: September 10, 2026

France - Monnaie de Paris

Silver Proof and Colour Coins Salute 400 Years of French National Navy

To mark the 400^th anniversary of the founding of France’s national naval force, Monnaie de Paris releases silver Proof and bi-metallic €2 coins. The force was established with the efforts of Cardinal Richelieu in October 1626. Between the years 1669 to 1683 during the reign of King Louis XIV, the fleet became one of the most powerful in Europe.

During the era of Emperor Napoleon between 1795 and 1815, the French Navy suffered heavy losses, struggling to match the superior strength, leadership and seamanship of the British Royal Navy, resulting in the loss of control of major worldwide sea lanes. During the the Industrial Revolution, the focus to rebuild and repurpose naval dockyards became paramount. In 1845, the first prototype of a steel-clad wooden hull was built, followed in 1858 by the construction of La Gloire, the world’s first ocean-going armoured ship. 

After the First World War, the French navy was entirely rebuilt, but by the end of the Second World War, the fleet, ports and naval dockyards were left in a pitiful state, requiring substantial restoration. As part of reconstruction, major projects for emblematic ships were launched such as escort ships and the two aircraft carriers – Clemenceau in 1959 and the Foch in 1961. That same year, the Directions des Constructions et Armes Navales - DCAN was established to organise naval dockyards and the navy itself while also developing export markets.

The obverse, which is shared on silver Proof and bi-metallic €2 coins, is designed by Joaquin Jimenez, General Engraver of the Monnaie de Paris. Featured is a sailor seen from behind, wearing a pea coat, emblematic of the institution, topped with a bâchi, the legendary instantly recognisable headgear of the French Navy. On the silver coin and selected strikes of €2 coins, the bâchi is shown in white, red and blue colour. The back of the sailor’s tunic includes commemorative text 400 ans MARINE NATIONALE in stylised text. In the background, the sailor gazes at the various ships and aircrafts used by the French Navy. Above him are the letters RF for République Française and the two hallmarks of the designer and Mint are on shown his left, under the submarine. Below the diver on the lower right is the year 2026. The reverse on the 10 euro coins feature two interlocking hexagons serving as a frame for the text REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE and the coins’ denomination of EURO 10 along with a wreath of maple and olive branches. The reverse of the €2 coins is that of the standard Euro-zone design for all circulating 2 euro coins, the numeral 2 is superimposed over a map depicting Europe created by artist Luc Luycx.

Both the BU quality silver and €2 coins are presented in a blister-pak card folder with illustrations and text. The Proof €2 coins are encapsulated and presented in a custom case accompanied with a certificate of authenticity. For additional, visit the e-webshop of the Monnaie de Paris.

Italy – IPZS

Copper Coins Highlight L'Aquila as 2026 Italian Capital of Culture

The Italian Capital of Culture is a title awarded annually by the Italian Ministry of Culture to a single city or multiple cities to promote local heritage, boost tourism and support regional development. First officially launched in May 2014, the programme was devisedto reward the efforts of cities who were competitors in the European-wide European Capital city of culture first begun in 1985. This copper coin collector series was launched in 2022 featuring the city of Procida in the region of Campania.

For 2026, the honour was awarded to the city of L’Aquila, who will host a year-long program themed L’Aquila: Multiverse City. The initiative highlights the central Italian mountain city's recovery and rebirth following the devastating 2009 earthquake, featuring over 300 cultural events, high-profile art exhibitions and historic palace openings

L’Aquila, Italy’s Capital of Culture for 2026 is celebrated as a city rich in history, art and spirituality, capable of preserving its heritage with strength and resilience, while looking to the future with confidence.

The obverse of the pure copper coins features a view of the familiar facade of the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio, with a detail of the rose window on the left. Just below and along the edge of the rose window is the name of the designer U. Pernazza and above the primary design along the upper rim is the text REPUBBLICA with the additional text ITALIANA placed below the Basilica. The reverse includes a detailed depiction of the Fountain of the Ninety-Nine Spouts with the masks facing to the right. Above the primary design and along the rim towards the right is the inscription CAPITALE ITALIANA DELLA CULTURA and just below the fountain is the additional text L'AQUILA. Just under the inscription are the denomination 5 EURO, the R mintmark representing the Mint of Rome and the year of issue, 2026.

Each BU copper coin is encapsulated and presented in a heavy-gauge coin case accompanied with a certificate of authenticity. For additional information, visit the e-webshop of the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato – IPZS.

Slovakia – Kremnica Mint

Silver Coins Remember the 250th Anniversary of Madagascar’s Slovakian King

The life of the curious, some say legendary story of Maurycy August Benyovszky, (1746 – 1786) an adventurous nobleman who is considered a national hero in Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia is celebrated on silver coins issued for the National Bank of Slovakia. The year 2026 is the 250th anniversary of Count Benyovszky’s elevation as ‘King of Madagascar’ during one of his most audacious expeditions.

Benyovszky was a participant in the Bar Confederation, an armed association of Polish nobles. Established at the fortress of Bar, their intention was to defend the Catholic faith and independence of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth against Imperial Russian encroachment. He was captured by the Russians and exiled to Kamchatka, but escaped and returned to Europe via Macau and Mauritius on a hijacked ship with other fugitives, arriving in France. In 1773, while in Paris, Benyovszky met the French Foreign Minister who was interested in the proposal of a trading post in Madagascar. Benyovszky volunteered to represent the French government as an emissary

Madagascar’s indigenous peoples were not particularly pleased to see these intruders. After repelling several armed attacks from the native Malagasy people, Benyovszky sent Paris positive reports of his advances in Madagascar. The tribes eventually proclaimed him as their supreme King or, Ampansacabe in 1776. Benyovszky sought both to legalise his status with other crowned heads of Europe and find further investment for his settlement. He left Madagascar and travelled to France as a sovereign monarch but, neither his expectations nor new status was met with approval by the French Court. Ultimately, the trading post previously supported by Paris was dismantled by order of the French government in June 1779.

It wasn’t until June 1785 when he was able to return once again and was warmly received by the locals. By January 1786, and anxious about another disruption to trade, the French governor of Mauritius sent a small military force over to Madagascar to deal with Benyovszky. On the 23rd or 24th May 1786, he was ambushed and killed by these troops, and was buried on the site of his encampment, his adventures and Ampansacabe of Madagascar had come to an ignominious end.

The coins are produced by the Kremnica Mint at their facilities in the Slovak town of the same name and designed by Branislav Ronai (obverse) and Miroslav Ronai (reverse). The obverse features a front-facing head and shoulders portrait of Maurycy Benyovszky, centred along with the depiction of a compass on his left shoulder. The depiction of Benyovszky is based on an original 18th-century oil-on-canvas painting attributed to an unknown artist. Just below the portrait is an emblem composed of a Malagasy pilgrim palm plant and a crescent with two stars – symbolic of Benyovszky as King of Madagascar with the year 1776 placed above. To the left of the portrait is a stylised map of the region of the continent of Africa with Madagascar and Malagasy animal, the zebu, superimposed over the map and, to the right is the coins’ denomination 20 EURO. Along the upper left and right rim is the text MÓRIC and BEŇOVSKÝ and placed below Benyovszky’s image is the additional text KRÁĽ MADAGASCARU (King of Madagascar). The reverse features an historic tall sailing ship on rough waves, centred. To the left is crest of the Slovak Republic and just to the right is a circular latent image comprising a stylised motif of three linden leaves – an important national symbol in Slovakia, which when the coin is tilted, alternates into the bank's initials NBS. Below the ship is the text SLOVENSKO and year of issue, 2026. Each BU and Proof version includes incused edge lettering which reads • ŠĽACHTIC CESTOVATEĽ DOBRODRUH (Aristocrat Traveller Adventurer).

Each coin is encapsulated and presented in a custom case branded with the Kremnica Mint’s insignia and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. For additional information, visit the e-webshop of the Kremnica Mint.