This week brings our Millennium Coins Trivia to the Western Alps of where the following Countries are situated: Italy and France. ITALY: In our focus year both proof and circulation coins were struck. The One Lira was/is the smallest denomination minted. This Aluminum coin was first struck in '51. On the coin pictured, imagine the date is 2000 instead of '94. The obverse, bears a Balance Scales and the reverse bears the date, denomination and a cornucopia: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img6/95-91&desc=Italy km91 1 Lira (1951-1995) In '99 Italy decided to mint a Series of 34mm Silver (0.3919 oz. ASW) Lira coins to honor some historical Lira coins. Two were produced. Circulation and business strikes were minted. The Legend is on the obverse of these "History of the Lira" coins. Part of the legend reads from 10:00 to 2:00, "REPUBLIC OF," and the final word reads from 8:00 to 4:00, "ITALIANA." The obverse of the selected "Historical Lira" is in the center of the "History of the Lira" coin.. The reverse of the selected "Historical Lira" is in the center of the "History of the Lira" coin's reverse. Also on the reverse of the "History of the Lira" coin, at 12:00 is the date of the "History of the Lira" coin "1999." At 6:00 is the denomination which reads, "L.1." Around the edge of the coin's reverse, between the date and denomination, are very large denticles. Italy continued the Series by striking two more coins. The reverse of the"History of the Lira" Series was changed. Denticles were replaced with circles which are about 1/2 mm from the rim. The selected "Historical Lira" for this "circles on the reverse" silver coin is the '22 Lira. Here's a photo.. http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img6/95-62&desc=Italy km62 1 Lira (1922-1935) The other "History of the Lira" coin's reverse changes: a wreath of leaves replaces the denticles. The selected historical coin is a '36 Lira: Here's a photo of a '44 dated coin. http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...c=Italy km77a 1 Lira (1936-1943) non-magnetic FRANCE: France's Reform Coinage began in '62 and most denominations continue to this day, so the coin in the photo may be dated prior to the year 2000, but the coin will represent the same type. Centime This coin was struck in Uncirculation and proof (Chrome -Steel). A special variety of the year 2000 Centime was minted (25,000) in Gold (.0603 oz. AGW) as a Commemorative to mark 2000 as being the last year in which a Centime would be minted. http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...69-928&desc=France km928 1 Centime (1962-1997) Aluminum-Bronze Five Centimes 5 Centimes coins were minted for collectors' sets only. Proofs were minted.. http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...9-933&desc=France km933 5 Centimes (1966-2001) Aluminum-Bronze Ten Centimes 60,000,000 business strikes and, an unknown amount of proofs, were struck. http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...-929&desc=France km929 10 Centimes (1962-2001) Aluminum-Bromze 20 Centimes Both circulation (85,385,000) and proof (unknown mintage) were produced. http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...-930&desc=France km930 20 Centimes (1962-2001) 1/2 Franc 75,000,000 of these Nickel 2000 1/2 Francs were minted for circulation without a mint mark or engraver's initials. No proofs were made. http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...-931&desc=France km931.1 1/2 Franc (1965-1997) Another minting of this coin occurred, with a modified Sower and engraver's signature "D'AP O. ROTY" on obverse. Proofs made. Nickel Franc This variety was made of Nickel with the regular Sower on the obverse without mint mark or Engraver's signature. Year 2000 coins were produced only for placement in Collector's sets. http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img7/69-925&desc=France km925.1 1 Franc (1960+) A gold ( .1929 oz. AGW) variety of the nonmodified design was struck (5,000) A modified variety was struck in business and proof. 10,000 Silver (.3762 oz. ASW) Commemorative (World Soccer Championship) Franc coins were minted with a Soccer Ball on the obverse and a Soccer Player on the reverse. Nickel Two Francs Two varieties of this coin exist. Reeded edge and Plain edge. All other aspects of this type are the same. Coins are round, but have octagonal rims. Only the plain edge was minted as business strikes (25,000,000) and proof. http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...9-942&desc=France km942.1 2 Francs (1979-1998) Nickel Clad Copper-Nickel Five Francs Struck in Variety 1 Sower, no Signature (for sets only) and Variety 2 Modified Sower with Signature (Uncirculated & Proof). http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...926a&desc=France km926a.1 5 Francs (1970-1997) In 2000 a silver (.3472 oz. ASW) 5 Franc was struck to honor Yves St.. Laurent. Obverse bears Monogram "RF" monogram. Reverse has Fashion Scene, There are three other Commemorative Copper-Nickel Plated Nickel 5 Francs Coins, but first I want you to look at the obverse of this '96 Five Francs Coin. Dated side is the obverse. Remember this design because it's the same on all three of the coins. I'll describe the reverses. http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...=France km1155 5 Francs (1996) Hercules group All 3 Coins commemorate "2000 Years of French Coinage." This 1st commemorative's reverse bears a 1st Century B.C. Celtic Parisil Stater Design (50,000) The 2nd Commemorative bears a Charlemagne Denar Coin Design. (50,000) The 3rd Commerative bears a Louis IX Gold Ecu Design. (50,000). Seven of the nine (9) silver commemoratives (European Art styles) (I couldn't find any photos) have a common obverse (Large Initials "I F" below Ecu emblem, but above denomination "6.55957" which sits on the word "FRANCS" which is above the date "2000. " Script and Ecu emblem are on the left side of the obverse with a partial male portrait centered.. This 1st silver (.6424 oz. ASW) coin's reverse has an inscription which reads along the edge from 10:00 to 2:00; "ART CLASSIQUET BAROQUE." with Classical Baroque Paintings (circa 17 & 18 Centuries). 15,000 minted. The 2nd silver (.6424 oz, ASW) coin's reverse reads "ART NOUVEAU" from 10:00 to 1:30 and displays artwork from the 19th & 20th centuries. 15,000 made. Our 3rd silver (.6424 oz. ASW) reads "ART MODERNE" and has artwork circa 20th Century. 15,000 minted. Coin 4 (.6424 oz. ASW) reads "ART GRECET ET ROMAIN" displaying examples of Greek & Roman artwork circa 1000 BC to 476 AD (15,000). Coin 5 (.6424 oz. ASW) reads "ART ROMAN" above examples of Roman Architrcture circa 10 & 12 Centuries. 15,000. Coin 6 (.6424 oz. ASW) reads "ART GOTHIQUE" above examples of Gothic Art circa 12 - 16 Centuries. 15,000. Coin 7 (.6424 oz. ASW) reads "ART DE LA RENAISSANCE" above Renaissance style Buildings circa 15th-16th Centuries. 15,000 minted. This is a different 6.55957 Francs Silver (.3762 oz. ASW) coin. Obverse bears a huge "RF" sitting in the center above denomination. That center is surrounded by Country Names and Euro-currency equivilents of those countries. The reverse has an allegorical portrait above date which reads "2001" instead of 2000. 200,000 minted. This silver (.3762 oz. ASW) 6.55957 Francs has same obverse as above coin, but its reverse bears the following: "RF" in very center surrounded by 6 examples of Euro-Coins surrounded by Country names and Euro equivilants. Denomination below "RF." In 2000 six Yen Francs Commemoratives were minted by the Paris Mint in silver. All have a composition of .9000 silver (.6432 oz. ASW). The coins commemorate 20th Century Sciences. They share a common obverse which bears a huge overlapping Double X design (10,000). Coin one's reverse is dedicated to a Biology and Medicine-related tri-pictorial grouping (parents, fetus, hands). Coin two's reverse commemorates Physical Sciences with four separate images (Einstine's portrait, an atom with six electrons, a direction cross and a series of planets and moons). Coin three's reverse commemorates Communication with five images (all-seeing eye, all-hearing ear, hand, Earth with three orbiting sattelites and a keyboard). Coin 4 commemorates the Automobile on its reverse via four devices (numbers on a race cars's speedometer along rim, a car facing left, a driver in race car facing right and a horse running right). Coin 5 commemorates Flight with three images ( a sun at 1:00, Icarus in flight above a Bleriot Airplane). Coin 6 commemorates Space Travel with a man in space suit floating weightless among planets of our solar system with the addition of circle-centered crosses representing distant stars and these words around the rim: "MERCURE VENUS TERRE MARS JUPITOR SATURN URANOS NEPTUNE PLUTON") The following three 10 Francs silver (.6424 oz. ASW) commemoratives honor "2000 years French Coinage," and all three obverses bear denomination above date within a wreath. First coin has an image of a 1st Century BC Celtic Parasil Stater on reverse. 2nd coin has image of Charlemagne Denar on its reverse. 3rd coin bears an image of a Louis IX Gold Coin. A 10 Francs silver (.6424oz. ASW) coin was struck in 2000 (30,000) honoring Yves St. Laurent (obverse: RF Monogram - reverse: Fashion Show Scene). A 10 Francs silver (.6424 oz, ASW) honors Antoine de St. Exupery (RF Monogram, portrait of Exupery and bi-plane on obverse - Little Prince character and denomination on reverse). Tri-metallic (Copper-Aluminum-Nickel Plug within a Copper Inner Ring inside a Copper-Aluminum-Nickel outter Ring 20 Francs Here's image of '92 coin indicative of a 2000-dated coin: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...69-1008&desc=France km1008.2 20 Francs (1992+) An Euro-currency Gold (.2499 oz. AGW) 65.5997 Francs Coin (3,000) honors Euro-currency by placing Country Names, their Euro-monetary equivalents around a "RF," denomination and Euro Coin designs on obverse. A 100 Francs Silver (.4340 oz, ASW) Coin was minted in Uncirculated and Proof. Obv: Pantheon. Rev: Denomination. 100 Francs Gold (.5028 oz. AGW) Commemoratives were honor the following: 4 coins Commemorate "2000 Years - French Coins." 5 Commemorate XX Century: "Physics: Communications: Automobile: Flight: Space." One100 Franc Gold (.5028 oz. AGW) Coin honors Exupery. One 655.957 Francs Gold (.9990 oz. AGW) Coin honors Euro-Currency, The following 655.957 Gold (.4995 oz.AGW) Coins Commemorate European Art: 1 Renaissance. 1 Roman. 1 Gothic. 1 Renaissance Buildings. 1 Classic and Baroque 1 Nouneau Arches and Scrollwork. 1 Modern Art. No photos of French Euro Coins Struck in 2000 exist. Most French Euro Coin's photos are of coins struck later. If a coin was struck in 2000 I will give the URL of the later coin's image: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri.../69-1c02&desc=France km1282 1 Euro Cent (2002) http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...69-2c02&desc=France km1283 2 Euro Cents (2002) http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...69-5c02&desc=France km1284 5 Euro Cents (2002) http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...-10c02&desc=France km1285 10 Euro Cents (2002) http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...-20c02&desc=France km1286 20 Euro Cents (2002) http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...-50c02&desc=France km1287 50 Euro Cents (2002) Lots of Millennium coins to look at! Next week - We'll check out Eastern European Coins! Please comment (pro or con), add info, photos or post anything helpful to this trivia. Clinker
