Monaco – The country and its gold coins

Monaco - The country and its coins

Details and facts

The names Monaco and Monte-Carlo are still synonymous with casino, Formula 1, luxury yachts, Grace Kelly and offshore tax haven. But there are many more interesting facts here.

Official name: Principality of Monaco. Monaco is a sovereign city-state, country and microstate located on the French Riviera in Western Europe. After Vatican City, Monaco is the second smallest country in the world.

Monaco is a constitutional monarchy/principality.

Monaco is a city state. Monte Carlo is often referred to as the capital and Monaco as the country, but Monte Carlo is merely a district of Monaco.

The official language in Monaco: French.

Population: almost 40,000 (as of fall 2022)

Currency: The Euro (€) (EUR)

Monaco does not levy income tax .

Albert II, Prince of Monaco, (born March 14, 1958 in Monaco), is the 32nd hereditary ruler of the Principality of Monaco (since 2005). He was the only son of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and Grace Kelly (Princess Grace of Monaco), a former actress.

Monaco is surrounded by France on three sides and the rest of the country is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea.

The inhabitants of Monaco are called Monegasques. However, the indigenous people of the country are in the minority here. The largest population group in Monaco are the French, followed by the Italians and the British.

Monaco is part of the Eurozone, but not the EU.

Due to the high demand and low availability of land, real estate in Monaco can be considered the most expensive in the world.

The most famous building in Monaco is the Prince’s Palace, followed by the Casino of Monaco.

Monte Carlo Casino ( Casino Monte Carlo ) is one of the most famous casinos in the world. However, the Monegasques are not allowed to benefit from the gambling halls of the famous casino. This means that at the blackjack and roulette tables you will not meet with the country’s residents, but visitors/tourists. The law prohibiting Monaco residents from gambling was enacted by the country’s government because it did not want its citizens to gamble away their money.

One of the most famous events in Monaco is the Monaco Grand Prix. You don’t have to be interested in cars to have heard of the world’s most glamorous Formula One race. The race takes place in the winding streets of this small, hilly town.

Two of the James Bond films were shot here in the Monte-Carlo casino: in “Never Say Never” (Sir Sean Connery) and in “Golden Eye” (Pierce Brosnan).

Monaco does not have its own airport, although it does have helipads. During the high season, the helipads are approached by helicopters every 20 minutes.

Much is being done to ensure the safety of Monaco’s citizens and visitors. The crime rate in Monaco is very low. This could be mainly because Monaco has more police officers per person than any other country in the world. Furthermore, numerous security cameras are installed throughout the Principality to prevent criminal activities.

Built in 1910, the Oceanographic Museum is one of Monaco’s most famous tourist attractions.

Monaco mints its own euro coins.

Most famous personalities from Monaco

Grace Kelly / Grace Patricia Kelly (1929 – 1982) was an American actress who became Princess Grace of Monaco through her marriage to Prince Rainier III. She is best known for her role in “The Country Girl,” for which she won an Oscar, and for her participation in several films by Alfred Hitchcock.

Caroline, Princess of Hanover / Caroline Louise Marguerite, Princess of Monaco, Princess of Hanover, Duchess of Brunswick and Lüneburg (1957 -), is the daughter of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and the famous American actress Grace Kelly. An avid philanthropist, she was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and received the UNICEF Children Champion Award for her charity work.

Stéphanie of Monaco / Stéphanie Marie Elisabeth Grimaldi (1965 -), Princess of Monaco is the youngest of the three children of Rainier III of Monaco and Gracia Patricia of Monaco and the sister of Prince Albert II and Caroline of Hanover.

Rainier III, Prince of Monaco (1923 – 2005)

Rainier III was Prince of Monaco from 1949 to 2005. He reduced Monaco’s dependence on gambling as a source of revenue and made Monaco more of a tourist destination. He was married to the famous actress Grace Kelly.

Princess Charlene of Monaco (1978 -)

Charlène Lynette Grimaldi, Princess of Monaco is a former South African swimmer and Princess of Monaco since her marriage to Prince Albert II on July 1, 2011.

Sights that you should definitely see in Monaco

The Prince’s Palace in Monaco (French: Palais Princier de Monaco), also called the Prince’s Palace of the Grimaldis, is the official residence of the Prince of Monaco. The changing of the guard, a tradition of the Princely House, takes place every day at 11:55 in front of the palace. The Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince (Palace Guard) performs this traditional ceremony in full uniform and accompanied by the military brass orchestra L’Orchestre des Carabiniers du Prince.

The Hôtel de Paris is a traditional luxury hotel in Monaco, opened in 1863. The hotel is located in the Monte Carlo district near the Monte-Carlo casino and belongs to the Société des bains de mer.

Monte-Carlo Casino is one of the most famous casinos in the world and is located in Monte-Carlo.

The Exotic Garden of Monaco (French: Jardin Exotique de Monaco) is a botanical garden opened in 1933 in the Principality of Monaco. It is located in the Jardin Exotique district.

The Monaco Oceanographic Museum (French.: Musée et Institut océanographique de Monaco) is a Monegasque museum and institute of oceanography founded by Prince Albert I in 1889.

Les Jardins Saint-Martin, overlooking the calm blue waters of the Mediterranean, can be visited on the same day as the Musée Océanographique de Monaco, just steps away.

The Cathedral Notre-Dame-Immaculée (French: Cathédrale de Monaco) in Monaco-Ville is the main church of the Principality of Monaco, seat of the Archbishop of Monaco and burial church of the Grimaldi family.

The Japanese Garden is a city park located on Avenue Princesse Grace in the Larvotto district of Monaco.

Our gold coins from Monaco

Many beautiful coins come from Monaco and are coveted by collectors and money investors worldwide. They enrich any collection and can also simply serve as the perfect gift. Here we present our two favorites:

200 francs – Rainier III 10th wedding anniversary of the princely couple and 25th anniversary of the reign of Prince Rainier III.

200 Francs – Rainier III 10th wedding anniversary of the princely couple

This gold coin commemorates the tenth anniversary of the wedding of Rainier III and Grace Kelly. There are two types of production for this coin: mint/uncirculated (unc): 5,000 copies and PP/polished plate/proof: 1,000 copies.

Front:

Title of the front GRACE. RAINIER III DE MONACO/ 1966.

Description Obverse Joined heads of Grace and Rainier at left; signed G. S. at back.

Back:

Title of reverse XÈME ANNIVERSAIRE MARIAGE/ 200 F.

Description Back Crowned shield in a crown formed by a palm tree and an olive branch.

Year: 1966

Country of issue: Monaco

Mint: Monnaie de Paris

Motif: 10 year marriage anniversary

Troy Weight: 1 oz

Fineness: .900

Nominal value: 200 francs

Circulation: 1000 copies

Monaco 1974, 3000 Francs, Gold – 25th Anniversary of the Reign of Prince Rainier III.

Year: 1974

Minting quality: uncirculated

Country of issue: Monaco

Mint: Monnaie de Paris

Motif: 25th anniversary of the reign of Prince Rainier III.

Weight: 28.8 g

Fineness: 0.999

Nominal value: 3000 francs

Circulation: 5000 copies

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  • Monaco Medal Disco del Sole 1976-2006 gold
    Monaco – Medal “Disco Del Sole – Compagnie Monégasques de Banque” 1976-2006 – 68,5g – Gold
    3.399,00 
    Delivery Time: approx. 2-3 days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays)
  • Monaco 3000 francs 1974 Fuerst Rainier 25th anniversary of government ngc pf63
    Monaco 3000 Francs 1974 Gold – 25th Anniversary – Regency of Rainier III – NGC PF63 Ultra Cameo
    0,00