Image: new €2 coin in France features Notre-Dame cathedral
20 million of the special coins will come into circulation in the coming weeks
The coins commemorate one of the French capital’s most iconic landmarks
EricBery/Shutterstock/LeParisien/X
A special €2 coin commemorating Paris’ Notre-Dame cathedral will enter circulation this week, with 20 million of the coins set to be released in total.
The coins, minted by the Monnaie de Paris, show a striking image of the recently rebuilt cathedral on their relief. The reverse shows the map of Europe as is typical for €2 coins.
The coins are already beginning to enter circulation, with all 20 million to be introduced over the coming weeks.
“Like all French people, we were deeply moved by the Notre-Dame fire. Nearly a year after its reopening, this is a way to celebrate all the artisans and craftspeople who were involved in the restoration,” said Monnaie de Paris CEO Marc Schwartz to Le Parisien.
The iconic cathedral was heavily damaged in a 2019 fire, but has been painstakingly restored using original crafting methods.
Special collector variants
The coins are part of the eurozone’s €2 commemorative coin series, which allows states that have adopted the currency to mint their own special versions.
These coins remain legal tender and function the same as any other coin, and will replace millions of damaged coins to be taken out of circulation in the eurozone.
“All countries in the eurozone are entitled to two commemorative €2 coins per year,” head of collections at the Monnaie de Paris Julien Sabouret told Le Parisien.
“This is the only one that can be modified. All the other denominations have a unique version that can be changed every 15 years.”
The first run of special €2 coins from the mint in 2025 saw 315,000 coins depicting the Louvre museum.
The Notre-Dame variant is one of the largest mintings of special euro coins in France – close to the 24 million of the 2024 Paris Olympics €2 – meaning they are unlikely to become a rare collectible item or rise in value.
Other €2 variants are rare, with only a few thousand minted, and collectors willing to pay extra to purchase them.
However, as part of the run the Monnaie de Paris is offering two collector versions of the coins, that are brighter and of higher quality. Costing €12 and €25 respectively, they can be bought online through the mint’s website.
