The Monnaie de Paris, an institution that has left its mark on history

15 September, 2025

Située sur la rive gauche parisienne, La casa de Papel française, La Monnaie de Paris, fabrique depuis des siècles les pièces qui transitent dans nos porte-monnaie et les médailles qui font le bonheur des collectionneurs.

Created on June 25, 864, during the reign of Charles II by the Edict of Pîtres, the Monnaie de Paris is one of the oldest companies in the world and the oldest French institution still in operation.

In this article, let's discover the institution that produces the French national currency.

1,150 Years of History

In 1775, the headquarters of the Paris Mint was inaugurated on Quai de Conti in the 6th arrondissement of Paris.
Louis XV decided to construct the building, and in 1796, the Paris Mint was attached to the Ministry of the Economy, Finance, and Industry. Several manufacturing workshops were established in France until 1878, when only the Paris Mint remained active.

From Hammer to Laser: Part Manufacturing

Since 1973, parts have been manufactured in Pessac, Gironde. The Parisian site had become too small, so it was decided to relocate the workshops.
Originally struck by hand and arm strength, metal parts were struck with a hammer.
Some techniques from that time have been preserved and are now combined with innovative industrial processes such as lasers and 3D technologies.

Demonstration of engraving techniques at the Monnaie de Paris
And it's a real success in Pessac! The presses produce 850 coins per minute.
Each year, the Monnaie de Paris produces 1 billion coins, including 700 million euro coins. The rest is gold coins, medals, and foreign coins.
The expertise of the Monnaie de Paris has been recognized by the award of the Living Heritage Company label. A total of 40 other countries trust France to mint their coins.

From Jacques Chirac to the Smurfs: Timeless Collections

There are everyday coins to buy your baguette and those that serve as souvenirs or are part of a collection. You've probably already bought a souvenir medal at the shop of a museum or tourist site you liked; your uncle takes great pleasure in showing you his collection of 500 coins minted in limited editions... that's also what La Monnaie de Paris is all about.

Medal for the 80th anniversary of the Union of Workers of the Paris Mint in Pessac 1899-1979. Engravers J-P GENDIS and D. GEDALGE

From Ancient Rome to the Middle Ages, including modern times, its collections have spanned the centuries. Each theme celebrates major moments in history, historical figures, or even exceptional heritage sites around the world. From Mount Fuji to Lafayette, including Jacques Chirac and the Franco-German alliance, the Monnaie de Paris has made history. Its most popular collection, too: alongside the coin celebrating peace, are the Johnny Halliday coin, and more recently, the Greedy Smurf and Lazy Smurf coins.

Want to discover the manufacturing secrets of the Monnaie de Paris?

If you appreciate the expertise of its artisans, head to its magnificent neoclassical-style building. Since its renovation in 2017, the place has been home to chef Guy Savoy's 3-star restaurant; a treat for your taste buds while dreaming of the next gold bar you'll buy. But you can also simply invest in a beautiful gold coin or one bearing the image of Napoleon, unless the one from Machu Picchu takes you on a journey.