Chic, très chic: Paris Mint will issue the first gold coins in a century

The new Marianne coins will be sold at market prices and will compete with South African Krugerrands, Canadian Maple Leafs and American Gold Eagles. And there is also “e-Marianne”… a new digital currency, which is kept by the Currency of Paris until the buyer decides to sell it.

A Currency of Paris announced this Tuesday that it will soon start selling coins solid gold for investmentthe first since it stopped making gold Napoleons and Louis, more than a century ago.

On June 16th, the Parisian Mint will put up for sale 4 versions of the new Marianne coins, with weights ranging from a tenth of an ounce (3.1 grams) to a full ounce (31.1 grams).

One of the faces will have the symbolic effigy of Mariannewhich represents the French Republic, while the other will show a map of french territoriesinformed the institution.

The coins will compete on the world market with South African Krugerrands, Canadian Maple Leafs or North American American Gold Eagles.

The objective is “democratize the gold market in France,” Mint director Marc Schwartz told reporters ahead of the launch, pointing to “investor demand” at a time when prices have soared in recent years.

A most investors who want to buy goldconsidered a haven asset, usually opt for funds traded on a stock exchange that follow the price of the metal, or by buying shares in gold mining companies.

The gold and silver coins currently issued by Currency of Paris are pieces commemorative or collector’smade with alloys that contain lower percentages of precious metals.

But the new currencies will be sold at market prices — currently about $4,600 per ounce, after one last year.

For investors who wish to avoid the costs of storing and protecting gold at home, Casa da Moeda will offer an “e-Marianne” digital currency, which will remain in their custody until the day the owner wants to sell it.

A Currency of Parisinstalled on the right bank of the Seine since 1775, did not indicate how many coins do you expect to sell. Its revenues increased by 1.7% last year to 197 million euros.

Founded in 864 AD by King Charles the Baldis the oldest continuously operating and still existing minting institution in the world.