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CC 167 2014
2 euro coin
BU Main coin Bank issue
2 Euro BU
France · 70th anniversary of "D-Day
Mintage3,000,000
Issue date6 Jun 2014
Edge lettering2 ★ ★ × 6, alternating upright/inverted
Market price€7.23
Issue occasion
The coin commemorates the 70th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandie on 6 June 1944. The design shows the inscription “D-DAY” as a stylized depiction of a landing craft and a tank gun, as well as the years 1944–2014 and the words “70e anniversaire du débarquement”. Imprints of the lace-up boots of American, British and Canadian soldiers are washed away by a wave in the sand; engraved in the wave are Verlaine’s words, which served as a code for the beginning of the landings.
The design
The inner part of the coin shows the lettering “D-DAY” as a stylised depiction of a landing craft and a tank gun. Above the tank gun are the years 1944-2014 and the words “70th anniversary of the landings”. The characteristic imprints of the lace-up boots worn by the American, British and Canadian soldiers are washed away by a wave and gradually disappear in the sand. Engraved in the wave are Verlaine’s words, which served as the code for the beginning of the landings: “the long sobs of the violins of autumn wound my heart with a monotonous languor” (“Sighs glide along the strings of autumn, strike my heart with a pain, dull and anxious”, adaptation by Stefan George).
The outer ring of the coin depicts the twelve stars of the European flag.
The outer ring of the coin depicts the twelve stars of the European flag.
Background on the topic
The Landings were the amphibious part of the Allied Operation “Overlord”, which opened a new front in Western Europe against Nazi Germany. France had been partially occupied by German troops since 1940 and completely occupied from 1942 onwards. The direct return of Western Allied forces to the French mainland was intended to relieve the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front and enable the liberation of the occupied countries.
The actual landing operation was codenamed “Neptune”. American units came ashore on the Utah and Omaha beach sections, British units at Gold and Sword, and Canadian units at Juno. At the same time, paratroopers were dropped behind the coastal fortifications. Air forces and warships supported the attack. The Wehrmacht had secured the coast with bunkers, gun emplacements and obstacles as part of the so-called Atlantikwall. An Allied deception operation had also created the impression that the main attack would take place at Pas-de-Calais.
After heavy fighting, the Allies succeeded in linking their bridgeheads and bringing in supplies across the English Channel. The subsequent campaign in Normandy lasted several weeks. It ended with the withdrawal of large parts of the German troops from the region and paved the way for the liberation of Paris and the further advance towards Germany. In addition to US, British and Canadian formations, soldiers, sailors and airmen from other Allied states also took part in the fighting.
The verses used come from Paul Verlaine’s poem “Chanson d’automne”, which was published in the 19th century. During the war, the British broadcaster transmitted coded messages to resistance groups in occupied France. The lines by Verlaine were among the signals that prepared French Résistance networks for impending operations, including sabotage of transport and communications links.
In France, the Landings are closely associated with the memory of occupation, Résistance and liberation. Round anniversaries are therefore commemorated with international ceremonies in Normandy. The coin issue formed part of this official and cross-border commemoration.
The actual landing operation was codenamed “Neptune”. American units came ashore on the Utah and Omaha beach sections, British units at Gold and Sword, and Canadian units at Juno. At the same time, paratroopers were dropped behind the coastal fortifications. Air forces and warships supported the attack. The Wehrmacht had secured the coast with bunkers, gun emplacements and obstacles as part of the so-called Atlantikwall. An Allied deception operation had also created the impression that the main attack would take place at Pas-de-Calais.
After heavy fighting, the Allies succeeded in linking their bridgeheads and bringing in supplies across the English Channel. The subsequent campaign in Normandy lasted several weeks. It ended with the withdrawal of large parts of the German troops from the region and paved the way for the liberation of Paris and the further advance towards Germany. In addition to US, British and Canadian formations, soldiers, sailors and airmen from other Allied states also took part in the fighting.
The verses used come from Paul Verlaine’s poem “Chanson d’automne”, which was published in the 19th century. During the war, the British broadcaster transmitted coded messages to resistance groups in occupied France. The lines by Verlaine were among the signals that prepared French Résistance networks for impending operations, including sabotage of transport and communications links.
In France, the Landings are closely associated with the memory of occupation, Résistance and liberation. Round anniversaries are therefore commemorated with international ceremonies in Normandy. The coin issue formed part of this official and cross-border commemoration.
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