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500 Francs / 75 Ecus Big Ben
| Issuer | Monnaie de Paris |
|---|---|
| Year | 1994 |
| Type | Non-circulating coin |
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| Obverse description | The obverse features the large denomination numerals '500' prominently displayed in the center of the field, with '75 ecus' inscribed beneath in a smaller font. A ring of twelve five-pointed stars encircles the central denomination, referencing the European Community. The legend 'REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE' is arranged along the upper and lower periphery respectively, separated by the star border. Two mint marks appear flanking the word 'FRANCS' in the lower central field. The overall design is bold and graphic, emphasizing the dual French franc and ECU monetary denomination. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
The 75 Ecus denomination places this squarely within France's brief experiment with ECU-denominated coinage, a series launched in anticipation of European monetary union that quietly died when the euro arrived and the franc was pensioned off. Paris issued these dual-denomination pieces across several years in the early 1990s, each pairing a French franc value with an ECU equivalent tied to the then-current exchange rate — a politically loaded gesture toward European integration that not everyone in the Assemblée nationale was enthusiastic about.
The Big Ben issue was part of a broader Franco-British commemorative program tied to the Channel Tunnel, which opened in May 1994 after years of delays and cost overruns that nearly bankrupted Eurotunnel before the first passenger ever boarded.