Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 2 Euro 2017, KM# 206, Monaco, Albert II, 200th Anniversary of the Prince's Company of Carabiniers
  • 2 Euro 2017, KM# 206, Monaco, Albert II, 200th Anniversary of the Prince's Company of Carabiniers
  • 2 Euro 2017, KM# 206, Monaco, Albert II, 200th Anniversary of the Prince's Company of Carabiniers, Red leather case with the certificate
Description

The treasury of the Principality of Monaco have issued (13th November) a new €2 commemorative coin celebrating the bicentenary anniversary of the founding of the Princely Guard, or Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince — which is the entity charged with the protection of the sovereign of Monaco as well as the princely family. Founded on the 8th December 1817 by HSH the Prince of Valentinois, Honoré Grimaldi, hereditary prince of Monaco and administrator of the principality, on behalf of his father, Prince Honoré IV, the Princely Guard have been the primary source of continual protection of the Monegasque sovereign for 200 years. Deeply attached to the princely family since their formation, the Palace Guards are proud of their motto: “Honour, loyalty, devotion.”

The coin is presented in a custom red leather case embossed with the crest of Monaco and includes a numbered certificate of authenticity.

Obverse

Depicts a member of the Carabiniers in the style of uniform as they appeared at the time of their foundation in 1817 and a palace guard as they are seen today. The Prince's Palace of Monaco provides a background, and a commemorative text including the years 1817–2017 is placed just under the primary design. The 12 stars of the EU surround the entire motif.

The Prince's Palace of Monaco is the official residence of the Sovereign Prince of Monaco. Built in 1191 as a Genoese fortress, during its long and often dramatic history it has been bombarded and besieged by many foreign powers. Since the end of the 13th century, it has been the stronghold and home of the Grimaldi family who first captured it in 1297.

Thus while other European sovereigns were building luxurious, modern Renaissance and Baroque palaces, politics and common sense demanded that the palace of the Monegasque rulers be fortified. This unique requirement, at such a late stage in history, has made the palace at Monaco one of the most unusual in Europe.

Mint mark (top left): Cornucopia (Paris Mint, Pessac, France)
Mint master mark (top right): Pentagon with letters AG, MP and YS (Yves Sampo)

MONACO
1817-2017
CARABINIERS DU PRINCE

Reverse

A geographical map of Western Europe spans the outer ring and inner core on the right side of the coin. The inscription 2 EURO is superimposed over the map of Europe, with the numeral “2” located in an open field representing the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

12 stars are located on the right side of the outer ring, with six stars atop the map of Europe and six stars below it; six vertical stripes cut across the inner core of the coin, visually connecting the upper and lower star segments.

Luc Luycx, a designer at the Royal Belgian Mint, designed the Euro’s common reverse; his initials, LL, are seen on the right side of the design, just under the “O” in “EURO.”

2 EURO
LL

Edge

The sequence "2 ★ ★" repeated six times alternately upright and inverted

2 ★ ★ 2 ★ ★ 2 ★ ★ 2 ★ ★ 2 ★ ★

2 Euro

200th Anniversary of the Prince's Company of Carabiniers

KM# 206 Gadoury# MC210
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Bi-Metallic
Ring Cupronickel
Center Nickel Brass
Weight 8.5 g
Diameter 25.75 mm
Thickness 2.2 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Paris Mint (A)

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