2 francs FRANCE (1997) Georges Guynemer

in the coin centre bust of Georges Guynemer in pilot's clothing facing slightly left; on the right: RF (REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE - French Republic); below year of issue 1997; along the top edge: GEORGES GUYNEMER 1894-1917; frame in a shape of octagon

above coin centre face value: 2 F (FRANCS); below stork flying leftwards; along the bottom edge motto of France: LIBERTÉ - ÉGALITÉ - FRATERNITÉ (liberty, equality, fraternity); frame in a shape of octagon

reeded

???  no data

18 II 2002

Atelier de gravure (group of designers of the Paris Mint)

La Monnaie de Paris (The Paris Mint), Pessac (mint mark before face value in the reverse, after face value privy mark of mint's director Pierre Rodier - bee)

1997

1 997 513

+ 2 500 in boxed 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

The commemorative coin of 2 francs from 1997 commemorates the 80th anniversary of death of Georges Guynemer (1894-1917) - captain, pilot, fighter ace of French Air Force during World War I. Guynemer achieved 53 victories in aerial combat, as well as 600 sorties. This adored by the French pilot, named "Ace of Aces" was shot down over Belgium. His body was never found.

The stork shown in the coin reverse comes from insignia of fighter squadron "Storks" Escadrille SPA 3, in which Guynemer served.



The Paris Mint (La Monnaie de Paris) dating back to the 6th century is the oldest French institution, and some would say - oldest institution in the world. The mint office is located in the center of Paris in a complex called Hotel des Monnaies, which was opened on December 20, 1775. A cornucopia is the symbol placed on any coin minted by the Paris Mint from January 1, 1880. The second character visible on coins was a symbol of the general engraver (Graveur general). The tradition of this job dates back to 1547 when Henry II of Valois appointed a general engraver as the only person authorized to create the king's portrait. Only the design prepared by the general engraver could have been copied to the coins stamps in national mints. Starting from 2001, the heads of engravers workshop in the Paris Mint do not hold this traditional title anymore, but their privy marks still appear on French coins next to the mint mark.

The name of the French mint - La Monnaie de Paris - suggests that the plant producing coins is located in the French capital. This is however, only the company name and factories were placed in various French cities. At the moment, the only place producing coins of France (and of some other countries) is Pessac near Bordeaux.