Deutsch
English
Français
Español
Italiano
Nederlands
Português
Slovenčina
Hrvatski
Slovenščina
Lietuvių
Eesti
Български
CC 430 2022
2 euro coin
BU Main coin Bank issue
2 Euro BU
France · Jacques Chirac, 20 years of euro cash changeover
Mintage9,000,000
Issue date25 Jan 2022
Edge lettering2 ★ ★ × 6, alternating upright/inverted
Market price€3.50
Issue occasion
The coin commemorates the 90th anniversary of the birth of former French President Jacques Chirac, who served two terms in office and contributed to the introduction of the euro. The design shows his profile facing towards the future, surrounded by a euro symbol and a French flag in heraldic colours bearing the letters “RF”. His name and his year of birth and death are incorporated into the euro logo.
The design
Jacques Chirac was President of the French Republic for two terms and an important architect of the House of Europe. He was President when the euro was introduced in 2002, whose 20th anniversary was celebrated at the beginning of this year.
The coin design shows the profile of Jacques Chirac, solemnly looking towards the future. He is surrounded by several symbols representing his actions: a euro symbol as a sign of his involvement in the introduction of the euro and his European spirit, and a French flag in heraldic colours bearing the letters “RF” as an indication of his presidency. His name and his year of birth and year of death are integrated into the euro logo. The mint marks and the year of issue have been incorporated into the design.
The outer ring of the coin features the twelve stars of the European flag.
The coin design shows the profile of Jacques Chirac, solemnly looking towards the future. He is surrounded by several symbols representing his actions: a euro symbol as a sign of his involvement in the introduction of the euro and his European spirit, and a French flag in heraldic colours bearing the letters “RF” as an indication of his presidency. His name and his year of birth and year of death are integrated into the euro logo. The mint marks and the year of issue have been incorporated into the design.
The outer ring of the coin features the twelve stars of the European flag.
Background on the topic
Jacques Chirac was one of the defining representatives of French Gaullism for several decades. From the 1960s onward, he was a member of parliament and held various ministerial posts. He was Prime Minister twice: first under Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, and later during the first so-called cohabitation under François Mitterrand. During a cohabitation, the President and the parliamentary majority come from different political camps. From 1977 to 1995, Chirac also served as Mayor of Paris. In 1976, he founded the Gaullist party Rassemblement pour la République, a predecessor of the later centre-right conservative UMP.
During his presidency, France was confronted with several questions concerning its recent history. In 1995, Chirac explicitly acknowledged for the first time the responsibility of French authorities for the persecution and deportation of Jews during the German occupation. In foreign policy, France under his leadership opposed the US-led Iraq War in 2003. His re-election in 2002 took place in an unusual political situation: in the run-off, he faced the far-right candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen after the Socialist candidate Lionel Jospin had been eliminated.
Chirac’s European record was not without contradictions. During his term in office, key steps towards the common currency were completed: the designation of the first participating states, its introduction as book money and finally the issuance of cash. However, this development was based on the Treaty of Maastricht and thus on decisions that had already been taken before his presidency. France subsequently worked together with the other Member States on the practical and institutional implementation.
A turning point was the French referendum of 2005, in which the population rejected the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, although Chirac had campaigned for its adoption. The coin therefore highlights above all that aspect of his political legacy in European policy which can be associated with the common currency. At the same time, it follows French practice in commemorative coins of commemorating former Presidents and republican institutions.
During his presidency, France was confronted with several questions concerning its recent history. In 1995, Chirac explicitly acknowledged for the first time the responsibility of French authorities for the persecution and deportation of Jews during the German occupation. In foreign policy, France under his leadership opposed the US-led Iraq War in 2003. His re-election in 2002 took place in an unusual political situation: in the run-off, he faced the far-right candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen after the Socialist candidate Lionel Jospin had been eliminated.
Chirac’s European record was not without contradictions. During his term in office, key steps towards the common currency were completed: the designation of the first participating states, its introduction as book money and finally the issuance of cash. However, this development was based on the Treaty of Maastricht and thus on decisions that had already been taken before his presidency. France subsequently worked together with the other Member States on the practical and institutional implementation.
A turning point was the French referendum of 2005, in which the population rejected the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, although Chirac had campaigned for its adoption. The coin therefore highlights above all that aspect of his political legacy in European policy which can be associated with the common currency. At the same time, it follows French practice in commemorative coins of commemorating former Presidents and republican institutions.
eBay price analysis
For this issue, there is a price history based on actual eBay sales – with median, range and number of sales
View price analysis