The microstate of Monaco, located along France’s Mediterranean coast, is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the founding of Monte Carlo with a €2 bimetallic circulation coin, to be issued June 1.
The coin’s obverse depicts former Prince of Monaco Charles III in the foreground with a view of Monte Carlo – a glitzy area of Monaco that takes its name from Charles III and holds the world-famous Monte Carlo Casino – in the background. Along the top of the coin is the name of the issuing country, “MONACO,” alongside the mint mark as well as the mint master mark. Along the bottom of the coin is an inscription reading “1866 – CHARLES III FONDE MONTE CARLO – 2016.”
The bimetallic coin has a copper-nickel core and copper-aluminum-nickel ring. Its outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag and a map of the European Union on the reverse. It has a weight of 8.5 grams, a 25.75-millimeter diameter, and a mintage of 15,000.