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CC 367 2020
Blister pack
BU
Blister pack BU
France · Charles de Gaulle
Mintage10,000
Issue price€10.00
Issue date31 Jan 2020
PackagingBlister pack
Edge lettering2 ★ ★ × 6, alternating upright/inverted
Market price€15.00
Issue occasion
The commemorative coin is dedicated to Charles de Gaulle. It features a double portrait: in the background, de Gaulle as a general during the Appeal of 18 June and during the liberation of Paris; in the foreground, during his second term as president. The Cross of Lorraine bears the “RF” monogram as well as his year of birth and year of death; de Gaulle had chosen the cross in 1940 as a symbol of Free France.
The design
The coin design features a double portrait of Charles de Gaulle at two different points in his life. The profile in the background shows Charles de Gaulle as an army general during the appeal to continue the fight on 18 June and during the liberation of Paris. The profile in the foreground shows Charles de Gaulle during his second term as president. The monogram of the French Republic, “RF”, can also be seen in the Cross of Lorraine, which General de Gaulle had chosen in 1940 as the symbol of Free France. The year of de Gaulle’s birth and death, as well as the year of issue, are also integrated into the Cross of Lorraine.
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
Charles de Gaulle was born in Lille in 1890 and embarked on a military career. During the First World War, he became a German prisoner of war. In the interwar period, he focused, among other things, on the use of modern, mobile armoured units. Following the German attack on France, he briefly served as Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defence in 1940.
When the French government under Marshal Philippe Pétain sought an armistice with Germany, de Gaulle went to London. From there, he addressed the French population via the BBC. He declared that the defeat was not final and called on soldiers, skilled workers and citizens to continue the war alongside Great Britain. The appeal, initially heard directly by only a few people, later became a founding moment of the resistance against the German occupation and the Vichy regime that collaborated with it.
De Gaulle organised the armed forces and political institutions of Free France. After the liberation, he took over as chairman of the provisional government. In 1946, he resigned because he rejected the parliamentary form of government. During the Algerian crisis, he returned to the head of government in 1958. Under his leadership, the Fifth Republic was established, with an enhanced role for the President of the Republic. As president, he oversaw the end of the Algerian War and pursued a policy focused on independence in foreign affairs. After a referendum on state reform failed, he resigned in 1969. He died in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises in 1970.
The 2020 issue commemorated several anniversaries: the 130th anniversary of de Gaulle’s birth, the 50th anniversary of his death and the 80th anniversary of his London appeal. France therefore declared 2020 a year of commemoration for de Gaulle. The issue date of the coin directly referred to the anniversary of his radio address.
When the French government under Marshal Philippe Pétain sought an armistice with Germany, de Gaulle went to London. From there, he addressed the French population via the BBC. He declared that the defeat was not final and called on soldiers, skilled workers and citizens to continue the war alongside Great Britain. The appeal, initially heard directly by only a few people, later became a founding moment of the resistance against the German occupation and the Vichy regime that collaborated with it.
De Gaulle organised the armed forces and political institutions of Free France. After the liberation, he took over as chairman of the provisional government. In 1946, he resigned because he rejected the parliamentary form of government. During the Algerian crisis, he returned to the head of government in 1958. Under his leadership, the Fifth Republic was established, with an enhanced role for the President of the Republic. As president, he oversaw the end of the Algerian War and pursued a policy focused on independence in foreign affairs. After a referendum on state reform failed, he resigned in 1969. He died in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises in 1970.
The 2020 issue commemorated several anniversaries: the 130th anniversary of de Gaulle’s birth, the 50th anniversary of his death and the 80th anniversary of his London appeal. France therefore declared 2020 a year of commemoration for de Gaulle. The issue date of the coin directly referred to the anniversary of his radio address.