Coin France Satirical coin Napoléon III - 5 cts size - Sedan 1870

This 50-euro gold coin was issued by France in 2013 to commemorate the 850th anniversary of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, whose construction began in 1163 under the bishopric of Maurice de Sully.

Struck in gold with a fineness of 920?, it has a weight of 8.45 grams and a diameter of 22 millimetres, characteristics in line with the usual standards of Monnaie de Paris collector coins for this denomination.

The obverse of the coin depicts a view of the western façade of Notre-Dame de Paris, with its two iconic towers, three sculpted portals and central rose window. The composition highlights the Gothic architecture of the building, whose characteristic architectural details ? flying buttresses, gargoyles and ornamental sculptures ? are finely reproduced in the coin's relief. The cathedral is depicted in its full majesty, as it stood on the Île de la Cité before the fire of April 2019.

The reverse bears the legal inscriptions specific to French issues, including the face value of 50 euros, the year of issue 2013 and the indication of the issuing country. Marianne, the republican symbol, appears in accordance with the Eurozone coinage rules requiring the representation of a national emblem on the reverse of coins.

This issue is part of the tradition of French commemorative coins dedicated to the national architectural and historical heritage. Notre-Dame de Paris, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the finest examples of 12th-century French Gothic architecture, making it a recurring subject in the numismatic programmes of the Monnaie de Paris.