10 francs FRANCE (1988) Roland Garros

below coin centre face value: 10 F (FRANCS), in the background bird with spread wings facing left and a contour of French coast of Atlantic; above year of issue 1988; along the bottom edge: RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE (French Republic)

in the coin centre bust of French pilot facing slightly right; above aircraft Morane-Saulnier N; along the bottom edge: ROLAND GARROS; along the top edge: 1888-1918

plain with concave inscription: LIBERTÉ ÉGALITÉ FRATERNITÉ (motto of France - liberty, equality, fraternity) divided by olive branch, laurel branch and cereal ear

???  no data

1 VII 1993

Atelier de gravure (group of designers of the Paris Mint - rosette over letter "O" in ROLAND in the reverse) based on design of Harvé Duetthe (signature H.DUETTHE over the rosette in the reverse)

La Monnaie de Paris (The Paris Mint), Pessac (mint mark before year of issue 1988 in the obverse, after year of issue privy mark of mint's director Émile Rousseau - dolphin)

1988

29 964 011

+ 9 000 in annual boxed sets

The commemorative coin of 10 francs from 1988 commemorates the 100th anniversary of birth of Roland Garros (1888-1918) - French aviator, fighter pilot during the First World War, who was the first to shoot down the enemy using guns shooting through the propeller. This construction he developed together with airplanes designer Raymond Saulnier. Garros participated in air races. He has also set many records of flight altitude and distance.

Roland Garros and one of the types of aircrafts that he used - Morane-Saulnier N.


photo licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0