Usually, after returning from vacation, money from our holiday destination remains in our wallet, which we did not spend. Then we take them out of the wallet and put them in a piggy bank or in another place with the thought that they will be useful to us during the next trip. However, some coins found in our wallets after traveling around EU countries can turn out to be real treasures. For example, an inconspicuous €2 coin featuring Princess Grace and minted in 2007 is valued by collectors at thousands of euros. Why is this coin different from other coins? Small states that are not members of the European Union but nevertheless use the euro as their official currency, such as Monaco, Vatican City, Andorra and San Marino, actually also mint small issues of commemorative coins. It is worth noting that their value increases already at the moment of breaking! If we talk about the value and value of 2-euro commemorative coins, Monaco is the absolute leader here. That is why the Monaco 2 euro coin with Princess Grace is one of the most expensive coins in the world today. Which coins related to the Duchy still deserve special attention? let’s see!

€2 coin minted in 2007 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the death of Princess Grace

The 2007 Princess Grace Anniversary coin was commissioned by the Duchy to commemorate Grace Kelly 25 years after her tragic death in a car accident in 1982. The coin could be purchased for €120. It was a special edition coin of  20,001  pieces, one of which was given to Prince Albert II. 

However, its value has skyrocketed in the last 13 years. If you ever come into possession of this coin while traveling in Europe, you can sell it to collectors for several thousand euros . Moreover, its price is constantly increasing. We can only guess how much numismatists will fight over this coin in a few years.

€2 coin minted in 2015 to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the construction of the first Castle on the Rock in Monaco

The €2 coin with the fortress of Monaco was minted in the number of  10,001. It commemorates the 800th anniversary of the construction of the first Castle on the Rock in Monaco. The coin shows a cliff-top fortress. At the time of issue, it was available for purchase at a price of 120 euros. However, over the next two years its value rose to €1,000 and now exceeds  €1,200. According to experts, in two years its price will probably increase even more.

2 euro coin minted in 2011 to celebrate the wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock

Another spectacular €2 coin was minted in 2011 to celebrate the wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock. The coin was minted in about 150,000 copies, which slightly lowered its value for numismatics. True collectors, however, are still delighted, because this event was really very important and brought a lot of happiness to the inhabitants of the Principality.

€2 coin minted in 2012 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Monaco’s independence

The €2 coin was commissioned by the Principality and issued by the Monnaie de Paris (Paris Mint) in 2012. They commemorate the 500th anniversary of Monaco’s independence. Its front features Lord Lucien I (Grimaldi), who ruled the Duchy at the time it became independent from France. About 110,000 copies of the coin were minted and it can cost around several hundred euros.

€2 coin minted in 2013 to mark the 20th anniversary of Monaco’s UN membership

The 2-euro coin, minted in 2013, commemorates the 20th anniversary of Monaco’s accession to the UN. In front is a dove with an olive branch in its beak, hovering over the continents of the world. By the way, the dove is also a symbol of Saint Devota, the patroness of Monaco. The celebration of Saint Devota is held every year on January 27 in the famous chapel. The coin was issued in more than a million copies, which significantly reduced its value. Nevertheless, this coin is still valuable to the numismatic community and those who collect rare and interesting coins.  

New commemorative €2 coins issued in the last few years

All the coins I wrote about above were minted some time ago and there is a high probability that many of them took their place of honor in numismatic collections. But don’t worry: The Duchy issues an impressive 15-16,000 commemorative coins each year.

So, in 2016, a 2-euro commemorative coin was released to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of Monte-Carlo by Prince Charles III. This coin can cost around 400 euros.

The 2-euro coin minted in 2017 commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince. The coin shows the image of two officers of the prince in uniforms from the 19th century with the prince’s palace in the background. The coin can be purchased for around 330 euros.

In 2018, the principality celebrated the 250th anniversary of the birth of the eminent Munich sculptor François-Joseph Bosio. On this occasion, a €2 coin was minted featuring the nymph Salmacis, one of his most famous works. The price of this coin is around 300 euros.

Finally, at the end of last year, a coin was issued to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the accession of Prince Honoré V to the throne of Monaco. It costs around 250 euros.

It is quite possible that soon one of these new coins will appear in your wallet after shopping in a supermarket or newsstand while traveling in EU countries. Therefore, after returning to your country, it is worth what euros you have left in your wallet. Have you looked for Monaco commemorative coins in your wallet yet? I’m going to do it right now.

Article based on an article published on www.hellomonaco.com about coins.