March 10, 2011 – This year the French Monnaie de Paris is issuing a gold and a silver coin within their sport series dedicated to figure skating, which was an Olympic sport event before the Winter Olympics were created, having appeared in the 1908 Summer Olympics in London.
The striking of these coins is also an opportunity for Monnaie de Paris to pay tribute to French figure skaters, who regularly win a large number of medals, particularly in the dance category.
10 EUR – Mintage: 10 000 – Silver 900 – Weight: 22.2 g – Diameter: 37 mm.
The obverse features a pair of skaters executing an arabesque. In honor of the site of the 2014 Winter Olympics (Sochi, Russia), Russian nesting dolls appear on the left side in front of the runner of an ice skate.
50 EUR – Mintage: 1000 – Gold 920 – Weight: 8.45 g – Diameter: 22 mm.
The top right features the words “Jeux d’hiver”. The reverse design depicts a female skater in front of a globe with the continent ofEurope positioned toward the front – an allusion to the location of the upcoming Winter Games.