When I saw this I had to have it. It is a modern coin but mimics the hammered coins of the mediaeval period. It also fits into my historical figures collection. It is a 10 Euro coin of Jeanne D'Arc (Joan of Arc). There is even a piece on Coinweek about this coin series. http://www.coinweek.com/coins/coin-...16-women-france-joan-arc-10-euro-silver-coin/ I absolutely loved the look of this coin. It is not perfectly round and takes some design cues from earlier coins. It is made from 90% silver and is 37mm in diameter.
The images look too cartoonish for me. Maybe the real coin will look better than the computer generated pictures.
I agree it is strange, incongruous even, but that is probably why I like it. I appreciate those who expressed their opinions regardless of whether or not they liked the coin.
I think the whole process of making this coin would have been quite challenging. Though it is not apparent from the picture I posted, the obverse fields are covered in Fleur de lis. The fields of the reverse have another design on them. You can see these features in the pictures used in the coin week article I linked to earlier.
That's often the complaint about today's coins, all done via computer and not done the old school way, apparently it's the lacking of depth and such. Another reason the state quarters and the like seem so lifeless.
We have been spoiled a bit because of the artistry of ancient coins. The high relief, the obvious talent of some engravers, the historic significance, a glimpse into the past, a connection with our ancient roots; these are just some of the reasons we love ancient coins and prefer them to their modern counterparts.
I think to fully appreciate this coin you have to see it up close. In the link that Orfew provided you can see a bigger picture. On it you can appreciate that the fields (which look a little lifeless/blank) on the picture posted, are in fact covered with tiny Fleur de Lis designs on the obverse, and a different, ornate design on the reverse. I am sure in-hand this is quite a lovely coin.
I'm not a huge fan of Granny bait ... although I do always fall for these tiny golden beauties (fricken animal coins) man, you've untethered your 12 Caesar leash, but now you're wandering into some fairly suspect territory!!
The Monnaie de Paris has made such "old style" coins for quite a while. Started with Clovis in 2011 (who had died 1500 years ago then), see here. While I found the irregular shape appropriate for the first pieces, it was a little odd in my opinion for the later ones such as the Charles de Gaulle or François Mitterrand coins. So after all those men, we now have important women. The other ones from this year are Clotilde and Mathilde by the way. Mathilde was the wife of William the Conqueror, so the other side of that coin shows a scene from the battle of Hastings. Christian
