France. Imaginative Gold and Silver Coin Series ‘The Art of the Pen’ Continues with Jules Verne

Launched in 2021, the inspiring series focuses on literary styles and authors who have marked literature history in France and around the world. Each year a different literary style is highlighted such as poetry, novels, philosophical essays and theatre and notable authors who have left their mark on the year's literary style are celebrated. After focusing poetry in 2021, theatre in 2022 and adventure novels in 2024 and this year, the focal point honours the incomparable science fiction author Jules Verne (1828 – 1905) which also marks the 120th anniversary of his passing.

Born in Nantes in 1828, Jules Verne is one of the most widely translated writers in the world. Verne began his career as a playwright before reaching great success with his fantasy novels. It was with his collection entitled Les Voyages Extraordinaires that Jules Verne gained recognition for his ability to build bridges between the worlds of science and literature. He is also described as a visionary primarily due to the fascinating world he created in his books. He imagined futuristic machines similar to the technological advances of the 20th century. In addition to his novels, Verne wrote short stories, poetry and songs, pursued scientific, artistic and literary studies. To this day, Jules Verne is recognised in the world of literature for his adventure novels which transports the reader into a fascinating futuristic, imaginative world. Jules Verne died on the 24th March 1905, his considerable funeral procession was headed by his son and grandson. He was laid to rest in the Madeleine Cemetery in Amiens, France where his tomb is still visited by many fans of his writings. The collection includes five designs, one representing the author himself and four highlighting some of his best-known works.

Coin 1 – €20 silver, €20 Gold and €50 Gold. The obverse side features Jules Verne and his most popular works, the author is portrayed in the role of a magician, revealing all his inventions and imaginations from his top hat. References to his stories ‘From the Earth to the Moon’, ‘Around the Moon’, ‘Five weeks in a Balloon’, ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’, ‘The Mysterious Island’, ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea’, and ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth’ blend together to paint an overall picture of ‘The Voyages Extraordinaires’. The commemorative years 1828 – 1905 and stylised text JULES VERNE is placed along the lower left rim.

Coin 2 - €10 Silver. The obverse features emblematic elements from the novel VINGT MILLE LIEUES SOUS LES MERS, (Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea) the text which is placed above the primary design. The design evokes the underwater world imagined by Verne. Captain Nemo, aboard the famous Nautilus, is in the centre, behind the tentacles of a giant squid. Beneath the shark, three divers advance in search of treasure. In the background, the wreck of an ancient ship symbolises the characters' underwater adventures. The stylised text JULES VERNE is placed just along the lower right rim and the year 2025 is shown to the lower left.

Coin 3 – €10 Silver. From the novel VOYAGE AU CENTRE DE LA TERRE (Journey to the Centre of the Earth) the obverse depicts an imposing prehistoric monster in the foreground as Professor Otto Lidenbrock stares intently at the horizon. In the centre, the raft sailing the ‘Lindenbrock Sea’ almost collides with two duelling sea creatures. The characters in this fictional story, evolving in a mineral universe, are represented on the right. To the left is a reference to the runic characters that guided the adventurers to the entrance of the Sneffels volcano and is inscribed in a giant mushroom. In the background is the Italian volcano Stromboli, through which the explorers emerged from the centre of the Earth. The stylised text JULES VERNE is placed just along the lower right rim and the year 2025 is shown to the lower left.

Coin 4 - €10 Silver. The obverse features a porthole on the left, in reference to DE LA TERRE À LA LUNE (From the Earth to the Moon) on the right, the team observes the moon from their orbiting spacecraft, a reference to AUTOUR DE LA LUNE (Around the Moon). The stylised text of both titles are shown along the inner frame of the porthole along with the name of the author JULES VERNE. The team observing the moon include Impey Barbicane, Michel Ardan (an anagram of Nadar, a friend of Jules Verne), Captain Nicholl, the dog Diane, and one of the chickens on board the spacecraft. the year 2025 is shown to the lower left.

Coin 5 - €10 Silver. Phileas Fogg is the focal point on this last coin, he is seen in the foreground in his hot-air balloon, accompanied by Passepartout, his faithful French valet and Mrs Aouda, the young widow he saved.  Several elements of design add to the story’s context and notably that of Big Ben, symbolising the point of departure and arrival of this adventure. The face of the clock of Big Ben at the top illustrates the urgent nature of the journey, emphasising that Phileas Fogg is in a race against time to win his wager. The stylised text LE TOUR DU MONDE EN 80 JOURS (Around the World in 80 Days) is shown below the primary design and along the lower right rim. The name of the author JULES VERNE is shown to the upper left near the rim and the year 2025 is seen to the lower left.

The design on the reverse side is common to the series and features several emblematic quotes from prominent writers in their own native language. Such as Le mieux est l’ennemi du bien (The best is the enemy of the good) by Voltaire, Lasciate ogne speranza voi ch'intrate (Leave all hope you who enter) by Dante Alighieri, To be or not to be, that is the question by William Shakespeare and Was mich nicht umbringt, macht mich stärker (What does not kill me, makes me stronger) by Nietzsche. A quill pen is depicted in the centre with the denomination and title of the series L'Art de la Plume is shown just to the right. The initials RF are seen below the denomination which represents the issuing country REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE 

Available from the 13^th March, the €50 and €20 gold coins are struck to proof quality and available as separate items. *€20 silver proof coin is struck to a high relief and is available separately. The silver €10 coins are available as a complete 5-piece set along with the €20 coin in a specially presented item. For additional information, please visit the e-webshop of the Monnaie de Paris.