By Franco | Last update : 10/27/2024
The musketeers in coinage
The French Musketeers, as elite units in the service of royalty, enjoyed a certain renown, even internationally, mainly thanks to their prestigious roles and proximity to the king. However, their fame outside French borders became more mythical with the success of Alexandre Dumas’ works in the 19th century, which helped to amplify the romantic and heroic image of these soldiers, far beyond their actual historical impact.
In Europe, their reputation as loyal guards and their participation in major conflicts, such as the Thirty Years’ War, contributed to their status. Nevertheless, other military units of the time, such as the Spanish Musketeers or the Swiss Guards, also enjoyed solid recognition, often compared to the French Musketeers. It was really literature and popular culture that immortalized the French musketeers as a symbol of bravery, loyalty and adventure, giving them a celebrity that few other army corps subsequently enjoyed, so it’s hardly surprising that they’ve been depicted on contemporary coins.
2024, La Monnaie de Paris pays tribute to the Three Musketeers and Dumas
To celebrate the 180th anniversary of the publication of The Three Musketeers, the Monnaie de Paris (Paris Mint) is honoring Alexandre Dumas in 2024 with an exclusive collection. The series features four coins dedicated to each of the Musketeers, linked together by two distinctive elements: a fragment of the numeral “1” which, when the coins are aligned, forms a whole, and a letter of the inscription “TOUS” (“ALL”). These details pay homage to the novel’s famous motto: “One for All and All for One”. All four coins are minted in silver, in standard quality, with a face value of €10.
In addition, a unique 100€ silver module, with high purity (900‰) and illustrating Dumas’s Four Musketeers, enriches the collection. Finally, a 50€ gold coin in BE (Belle Épreuve) quality, depicting Alexandre Dumas and his famous characters, is also available this year.
Previous editions of La Monnaie de Paris (Paris Mint)
The Monnaie de Paris had already graced us with coins featuring our famous musketeers in 2012 and 2019. Here they are, below.
Other currencies around the world
Belarus
A commemorative silver series, released in 2009, comprising four coins: d’Artagnan, Athos, Porthos and Aramis, was issued by the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus to mark the 165th anniversary of the first issue in 1844 of Alexandre Dumas’ famous novel The Three Musketeers.
There is also an “antique” finish mintage of 7,000 in a boxed set.
Djibouti
This set of four rectangular one-ounce silver coins is dedicated to the famous historical novel: The Three Musketeers. Released in 2018, the set of 4 coins placed end-to-end forms a panorama. They are presented in a small treasure chest.
Niue
This one-ounce silver coin in antique finish depicting d’Artagnan was minted in 2021 by the Vilnius monetary workshop in Lithuania on behalf of the small state of Niue, in the South Pacific Ocean.
In 2022, a new series “The Three Musketeers” begins with the first: “D’Artagnan”, 2 ounces of silver and limited to 500 pieces. The minting is in high relief with an antique finish.
Canada
This Canadian commemorative coin evokes the 30-denier French coin of the Ancien Régime (Louis XIV), known as the “Mousquetaire” because of the cross on its reverse, which resembled that on the King’s Musketeers’ cassocks. The obverse features the monogram of King Louis XIV, with two “Ls”, one forward and one backward, under the king’s crown, and three fleur-de-lys symbols.
In September 1709, to remedy coin shortages, particularly in the colonies, France, which had a limited supply of silver at the time, minted two new coins, including the 30-denier coin with a very low silver content (20%), following a royal decree issued by King Louis XIV.
Coins minted in Lyon (D) were widely circulating in the American colonies (New France), hence this modern tribute.
If you have identified other coins (only, no medals or other tourist tokens, thank you), please let us know.
Bibliographie & Crédit photos
La Monnaie de Paris
Numista
Royal Canadian Mint
