Coin Pièce French Mint 50 euro Silver 2013 A Paris

Remarks:

Avec étui et certificat d'authenticité

This 50 euro silver coin was issued in 2013 by the Monnaie de Paris, as part of the series dedicated to great French ships. It honours La Gloire, a French ironclad frigate launched in 1859 and considered the first iron-hulled armoured warship in modern naval history. This vessel, designed by engineer Dupuy de Lôme, represented a major technological breakthrough in 19th-century military shipbuilding.

The coin is struck in silver with a fineness of 950 thousandths, with a weight of 163.8 grams, corresponding to 5 ounces of silver. Its diameter is 50 millimetres. It is produced at workshop A of the Monnaie de Paris, with a Belle Épreuve (BE) finish, guaranteeing superior strike quality characterised by sharp reliefs and a mirror background contrasting with the satin-finish motifs.

The mintage of this coin is limited to 500 specimens, making it a particularly rare issue. The face value is 50 euros, assigned by the French State, which guarantees its legal tender status.

The depiction of La Gloire on this coin is part of an approach to promote French maritime heritage through numismatics. The ship, which notably participated in the American Civil War as an observer and was present during several naval operations under the Second Empire, symbolises the industrial and military power of France in the mid-19th century. This coin belongs to a coherent thematic series, documenting through precious metal significant chapters in the history of the French Navy.