5 francs FRANCE (1989) Eiffel Tower

above coin centre face value: 5 F (FRANCS - francs), in the background view from top to Eiffel Tower; along the top edge: REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE (French Republic)

on the left side view from the ground to Eiffel Tower; on the right in four lines: TOUR / EIFFEL / 1889 / 1989 (Eiffel Tower 1889 1989)

reeded

???  no data

18 II 2002

Atelier de gravure (group of designers of the Paris Mint - rosette - below Eiffel Tower in the obverse) based on design of Joaquin Jimenez (signature J.JIMENEZ along the bottom edge of the obverse), Atelier de gravure (group of designers of the Paris Mint) based on design of Frederic Joubert (signature F.JOUBERT along the bottom edge of the reverse)

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 Emile Rousseau - dolphin)

1989

9 774 011

+ 10 000 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 5 francs from 1989 commemorates the centenary of the construction of the "Iron Lady of Paris" - the most recognisable building and symbol of Paris - the Eiffel Tower (in French Tour Eiffel). The tower was constructed in 1889 for the World Exhibition (EXPO) in Paris.


photo: Cezary Piwowarski; licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0

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.