The Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) has issued two commemorative coins to mark the Curaçao national football team’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup – a silver Cg 5.00 coin and a Cg 0.50 circulation-quality coin.
The Curaçao national football team made history by qualifying for the 2026 World Cup for the first time, becoming the smallest country by population ever to achieve this feat. With this exceptional accomplishment, Curaçao has also secured a place in the Guinness Book of Records. The issuance of these commemorative coins serves as a tangible tribute to this milestone.
Both coins feature the powerful blue wave, silhouettes of the players as a tribute to their dedication and determination, the stars of the Curaçao flag reflecting the nation’s identity, and of course the football – the heart of this historic achievement.
The silver Cg 5.00 commemorative coin was produced by the Royal Dutch Mint. The coin weighs 11.9g with mintage limited to 4,500 pieces.
The Cg 0.50 circulating coin was produced by the Royal Canadian Mint. It is a multi-ply plated steel coin weighing 4.45g.
Monnaie de Paris has unveiled a new gold investment offering with the launch of Marianne Or and its digital counterpart, eMarianne Or, with both scheduled for launch to the general public on 16 June. The initiative marks a significant development for the institution, reviving bullion production for the first time in nearly a century.
The Marianne coin represents a tangible store of value, designed as a durable and transferable asset rooted in France’s monetary heritage. In parallel, the eMarianne provides a digitally held alternative, securely stored by Monnaie de Paris and convertible into physical bullion or redeemable at prevailing market prices.
Designed by Engraver General of the Monnaie de Paris, Joaquin Jimenez, the coin features a contemporary depiction of Marianne, the emblematic figure of the French Republic. The other side of the coin depicts a map of French territories.
An inaugural minting was held at the Grand Monnayage (the historical minting room at Monnaie de Paris) and attended by senior French officials, marking the formal introduction of the series.
The fine gold coins will be available in four versions, ranging from one ounce to one-tenth ounce.
The programme signals a revival of France’s historic gold coin tradition while addressing growing investor demand for both physical and digital precious metal assets in a safe-haven environment.
The South African Mint has launched its first-ever high-relief coin collection titled ‘The African Range’. Designs were modelled after existing sculptures by South African artist Dylan Lewi, with the debut release focusing on the cheetah. The collection unfolds as a five-coin narrative, capturing the stages of the hunt: from watchful surveying and stealthy stalking to the explosive chase, decisive capture, and final repose.
The reverse design portrays the cheetah in a poised, surveying stance, rendered in high relief to achieve depth, detail, and sculptural presence. The obverse features a refined, cropped profile of the animal, offering a dynamic visual construct across the series.
Departing from traditional flat design processes, the Mint adapted pre-existing sculptures into intricate coin form, requiring months of technical refinement to achieve exceptional depth and detail. ‘Our ambition was to create a flagship collection that reflects Africa’s natural beauty, craftsmanship, and artistic excellence on a global stage’, said Richard Stone, Product Development Manager.
Struck in 24-carat gold and fine silver across multiple sizes, the series maintains consistency in its high-relief design. An exclusive sculpture set pairs a 1 oz gold coin high-relief privy mark gold coin with a miniature sculpture of the original Dylan Lewis sculpture upon which the designs were modelled.
The National Bank of Ukraine has issued a new commemorative coin honouring Alexandra Exter, a leading figure of the 20th-century European avant-garde – a Ukrainian Cubo-Futurist artist, educator, and a pioneer of Art Deco. The release marks the launch of a new numismatic theme dedicated to the avant-garde movement and honouring the contributions of Ukrainian artists to global culture.
Struck in fine silver with a face value of 10 hryvnias, the octagonal coin features a coloured depiction of Exter’s theatrical costume design on the obverse, while the reverse presents a stylised stage composition inspired by her scenographic work.
Mintage has been limited to 10,000 pieces.
