France

2020

Commemorative coin

Medical Research

Official Journal of the European Union

The design shows the figuration of the human in union, represented by a face inscribed in a sphere. It faces the infinitely small, represented by fragments of DNA inscribed in a circle. By its oblique axis, this allegory represents the research and its intelligence dominating the infinitely small, studying it and triumphing over the diseases. The indication of the issuing country ‘RF’ is located at the top right while the mintmark and the year of issuance ‘2020’ are located at the bottom left. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Additional information

The COVID 19 pandemic put medical research at the centre of public attention. Emmanuelle Charpentier from France was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry - by chance the day after the presentation of the coin - for developing the "genetic scissors" CHRISPR. The coin design by Joaquin Jimenez, which depicts the profile of a woman surrounded by a stylised globe when looking at the microcosm, the DNA double helix, evokes associations with this honour. The word "UNION" (community), as shown on one of the offered coincards, is linked by the coin designer to letters of the terms DÉVOUEMENT, ENGAGEMENT, BIENVAILLANCE, PROTECTION, GÉNÉROSITÉ (selflessness, commitment, benevolence, protection and generosity). This is to pay tribute to the work of researchers, doctors and nurses during the pandemic.

Edge lettering

Designer