Coin Pièce French Mint 50 euro Silver 2012 A Paris

Remarks:

Avec étui et certificat d'authenticité

This 50 euro silver coin was issued in 2012 by the Monnaie de Paris (mint mark A) as part of the series "The Great French Ships", dedicated here to the ocean liner France. It is struck in Belle Épreuve (BE) format, a process characterised by carefully crafted relief and a marked contrast between polished surfaces and matte areas, ensuring superior strike quality.

The coin is composed of silver at a fineness of 950 thousandths, with a weight of 163.8 grams, equivalent to 5 ounces. Its diameter measures 50 millimetres. The mintage is limited to 500 examples, making it a particularly scarce issue.

The France is one of the most iconic ocean liners in French merchant shipping history. Built by the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, she was launched in 1960 and entered service in 1962 under the colours of the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique. At 315.5 metres in length, she was for several years the longest ocean liner in the world. Her distinctive silhouette, marked by two funnels adorned with winged fins, remains one of the most recognisable visual features of her era. She made transatlantic crossings between Le Havre and New York until 1974, when she was withdrawn from active service due to rising fuel costs. Purchased in 1979 by a Norwegian shipowner, she was renamed Norway and converted into a cruise ship.

The depiction of the ocean liner on this coin reflects the Monnaie de Paris tradition of commemorating national maritime heritage through limited-edition precious metal issues.