The Monnaie, a regalia power entangled with history


From the Franc to the Euro, La Monnaie de Paris remains closely entangled with the history of France and its coinage.

The Ancient Regime
Along our history, the willingness and necessity to control and manage monetary issues as well as coinage production have remained sources of concern for public authorities. Charlemagne had already realized the necessity to centralize monetary issues within its palace. Through the Ordonnance of 864, Charles le Chauve « forbides the striking of coinage in any other location than the Palace » (« fait défense de fabriquer des monnaies en nul lieu si ce n’est au Palais »). The manufacturing organization evolves nonetheless over the centuries. A new dual structure appears in 1358 and prevails in its principle until 1879: on the one hand, an administration granted with jurisdictional and regulatory powers over monetary matters, and on the other hand manufacturing workshops under the State’s control.

From the Revolution to the euro
La Monnaie de Paris reports to the Ministry of Finance since the laws of 22nd and 23rd vendémiaire An IV were adopted in September 1796. The laws of July 31st and November 20th 1879 establish that the manufacturing of coinage can exclusively be done by the State. In 1973, the State decide to create in Pessac (Gironde) a modern manufacturing facility to handle all processes in the manufacturing of circulating coins - from the foundry of raw metals to final packaging. Circulating French or foreign coins are now manufactured in the Pessac factory (Gironde) for more than 25 years. Since the spring of 1998, the factory mobilizes the majority of its resources to produce the eight euro coins.
On January 1st, 2007 La Monnaie de Paris becomes an EPIC (state owned industrial and commercial company)