Ahead of the reopening anniversary of the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Paris Mint is issuing commemorative €2 coins featuring the iconic Gothic structure. The cathedral, which lost its spire and roof in a fire in April 2019, reopened on December 7 last year. 20 Million €2 commemorative coins will be released into circulation this week. Special collector editions from the series sold out on October 28.
Designed by Joaquin Jimenez, the Monnaie de Paris’s general engraver, the coin features a full-scale depiction of the cathedral’s west façade, with its rose window emerging between the two towers. The official Notre-Dame de Paris logo also appears against the edge. The design secured unanimous approval from the European Commission and all 21 eurozone members before minting.
Constructed in the 12th century, Notre-Dame Cathedral is known as the jewel of Gothic architecture. It is the most visited monument in France and Europe. The devastating 2019 fire also caused extensive damage to the interior of the cathedral. Over 2,000 masons, carpenters, roofers, foundry-workers, sculptors, and other artisans put in thousands of hours of labor into the massive restoration project that lasted five years.