Monaco

2015

Commemorative coin

800th anniversary of the construction of the first Castle on the rock

Official Journal of the European Union

The design shows a tower on the top of the rock. At the top the name of the issuing country ‘MONACO’ flanked by the Paris mint mark and the mint master mark. At the bottom, the inscription ‘FONDATION DE LA FORTERESSE’ (Foundation of the fortress), flanked by the years ‘1215’ and ‘2015’. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Additional information

Today's Monaco was an ancient trading centre of the Phoenicians and later the Greeks, who had built a temple of Heracles here on the north coast of the western Mediterranean, which was soon given the nickname "Monoikos" (single house). When the place became a Roman port, it was given the name "Herculis Monoeci Portus", from which Monaco was shortened. In 1215, the Grimaldi family, who were part of the patriciate of the Republic of Genoa, established themselves here. The coin shows a tower on a rock by the sea.

Edge lettering

Designer