2 euro FRANCE (2010) 70th Anniversary of de Gaulle's Appeal

in the coin centre Charles de Gaulle facing slightly right is reading the appeal to the microphone using notes; on the notes concave letters: RF (RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE - French Republic); above in three lines: 70 ANS / APPEL / 18 JUIL (70 years of Appeal - 18 June); on top year of issue 2010; at the edge a ring of twelve five-pointed stars - symbol of the European Union

left from the coin centre face value: 2, on the right inscription: EURO; in the background of the inscription a map of Europe; in the background of the map vertically six parallel lines ending on both sides with five-pointed stars (the reverse is common for all euro coins)

reeded with concave inscription:

25 V 2010

in circulation

???, Luc Luycx (initials LL below letter O in EURO in the reverse)

La Monnaie de Paris (The Paris Mint), Pessac (mint mark before year of issue in the obverse, after year of issue privy mark of mint's director Hubert Larivière - horn)

2010	20 000 000	+ 1 500 in annual boxed sets
		+ 20 000 in boxed commemorative sets

Privy marks of the general engravers of the Mint of Paris, which can be found on French coins produced after 1944:

Lucien Bazor	1931-1958		wing
Raymond Joly	1958-1974		owl
Emile Rousseau	1974-1994		dolphin
Pierre Rodier	1994-2000		bee
Gérard Buquoy	2001-2002		horseshoe
Serge Levet	2003		heart
Hubert Larivière	2004-2010		horn
Yves Sampo	from 2011		rosette

On May 10, 1940 Germany attacked France and during the following month German troops reached Paris. The French government broke up into two camps - supporters of further fight and supporters of surrender. The leader of the latter Marshal Philippe Pétain on June 17 gave a radio speech in which he announced that he had begun capitulation negotiations. A day later, through the BBC Radio in London the speech was given by General Charles de Gaulle, contemporary vice-Minister of National Defence. In his speech he called on the French to disobey and continue the fight against the Germans. This appeal is considered the beginning of the French Resistance and de Gaulle became the commander of the troops, who sought shelter in the British Isles. For this insubordination de Gaulle was sentenced to death in absentia by the French military court, but the history proved that the General was right. In liberated France, de Gaulle became the head of government, and in years 1959-1969 he was the president of France. French commemorative coin of 2 euro from 2010 commemorates the 70th anniversary of his radio appeal on June 18, 1940.

General Charles de Gaulle in the BBC editorial in London on June 18, 1940.


photo: DR