Shopping Cart
Commemorative coin of the Principality of Monaco, issued in 2020 in a circulation of 15,000 copies. Dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the birth of Prince Honoré III. It was minted at the Paris Mint. Bimetallic, diameter 25.75 mm, weight 8.5 g.
Obverse
In the center of the coin is a portrait of Prince Honoré III Grimaldi in a historical uniform of the 18th century in profile. At the top, in an arc, is the inscription "300e ANNIVERSAIRE NAISSANCE PRINCE HONORÉ III". At the bottom, is "MONACO" and the dates "1720-2020". On the right is the mark of the Paris Mint. On the outer ring are the 12 five-pointed stars of the European Union.
Reverse
The reverse is the common side of the 2 euro coins of the second type, designed by Luc Luix (Royal Belgian Mint). It depicts a map of Europe as a single continent without internal borders - a symbol of European unity. On the left is a large denomination "2" and the inscription "EURO", on the right is a map with six thin horizontal lines in the background. On the outer ring are the 12 stars of the European Union. The band is finely fluted and the inscription "2 ★", repeated six times alternately upright and inverted.
Historical context
Prince Honoré III Grimaldi (10 November 1720 – 21 May 1795) was Prince of Monaco from 26 December 1731 to 14 February 1793. His reign lasted over 61 years – one of the longest reigns in the history of European monarchs. He was born in Paris, the son of Prince Jacques I and Princess Louise Hippolyte. After the premature death of his mother, he inherited the throne at the age of 11 (his father was regent). He spent most of his life in Paris and Versailles at the French royal court, while Monaco was governed by viceroys. He served in the French army, participated in the campaigns of the War of the Austrian Succession (field marshal-lieutenant). In 1757 he married Marie-Catherine de Brignain. The French Revolution brought disaster: on February 14, 1793, the Revolutionary Convention decided to annex Monaco to France, the principality lost its sovereignty. Honoré III was imprisoned in the Kelm prison in Paris, where he died on May 21, 1795. Monaco's sovereignty was restored in 1814 during the Restoration.