France 2024 Lady Liberty & Sower Walking 20 Euro 1 Oz Silver Proof HIGH RELIEF

Description: In Stock and Ready for Immediate Shipment! One of the most beautiful depictions of Liberty we've ever seen, this artistic tour de force will appeal to modern collectors and traditionalists alike. As a bonus, the original Walking Liberty, France's Sower, makes for a double-obverse, two headed masterpiece! France and the United States celebrate the 250th anniversary of American Independence in 2026. Let's get the party started with this double-headed, high relief silver proof with Liberty representing the USA and the Sower representing France. On the obverse, Lady Liberty, the personification of the United States, holds a billowing American flag between her outstretched arms, while an American bald eagle flies above her with its wings outspread. Liberty's diaphanous, off the shoulder gown likewise flows in the breeze before a background of stars. Appropriately, Liberty wears the tiara or crown of the famous Statue of Liberty, the gift from France, on the occasion of the USA's centennial in 1876, designed by Frederic Bartholdi and constructed by Gustave Eiffel of Eiffel Tower fame. The visual language of the soaring eagle, billowing flag, flowing gown, and Lady Liberty's outstretched arms and loose hairstyle all convey the allegory of Freedom and Liberty, the cornerstone American virtue. There are no legends on this side to detract from the beauty and power of the vignette. On the reverse, France's own Sower scatters the seeds of peace and prosperity for her country. In 1897, French medalist and engraver Oscar Roty was at the height of his artistic powers when he created the Sower, the original Walking Liberty. This beauty dons a classical toga with her head crowned by a laurel wreath. The national flag of France, le Tricolore, waves behind her. The entire vignette is framed by fruits of wheat, representing plenty and freedom from want. Roty's Sower (French: la Semeuse) revolutionized the way Liberty was depicted on coinage, inspiring Aldolph Weinman to produce his famous (and similar) Walking Liberty for the half dollar of 1916. Please see the article below for more on Oscar Roty and the Sower. But wait, there's more! The Liberty obverse was designed by the Chief Engraver of the Paris Mint, Joaquin Jimenez, while the Sower reverse was designed by the 12th Chief Engraver of the US Mint, the acclaimed John Mercanti. This genuine example of artistic collaboration finds the two beautiful allegories of each country united together on one superb silver tribute. This one troy ounce pure silver coin is struck in high relief with a frosted cameo proof finish. It is the first of three designs that the Paris Mint will issue from 2024 through 2026 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States' founding in 1776. With a mintage of just 3,000, we recommend immediate action to secure one (or more) at our introductory price. France—America's Oldest Ally It all started back in 1778, when France became the first country in the world officially to recognize the just-born United States of America as a new nation. Now, more than 250 years later, France and the USA continue their special relationship of close cooperation and military alliance in the service of freedom and democracy. How important has France been to the United States? Very simply, the US would not exist without the military and political aid France provided during the Revolutionary War. The young Marquis de Lafayette, who George Washington considered his adoptive son, convinced King Louis XVI to send military aid in the rebellious colonies' fight against Britain. It's a little known fact that in the pivotal Siege of Yorktown in 1781, there were more French troops engaged than American! On land, the Comte de Rochambeau commanded a French army alongside Washington's Continental Army. At sea, the Americans had no navy, so it was up to the French fleet under Admiral Comte de Grasse to defeat the British navy's relief efforts, which it did at the Battle of the Chesapeake. This allowed a second French fleet to land reinforcements and much-needed siege artillery that brought the British army to its knees. Cornwallis surrendered to Washington a few weeks later, ending the Revolutionary War. The United States returned the favor when the American Expeditionary Forces arrived in France during World War I in 1917. The situation on the Western Front was tenuous, with the French and British armies barely able to withstand the full force of the Imperial German onslaught. American General John "Black Jack" Pershing stopped to salute Lafayette's tomb in Paris, exclaiming, "Lafayette, we are here." The two million man strong AEF turned the tide on the Western Front for the Allies and won the war. A similar situation occurred after Nazi Germany overran and occupied France during World War II. American troops landed on Omaha and Utah Beaches on D-Day in 1944, then fought across the depth and breadth of the country for the next year to finally liberate France in May, 1945. The Original Walking Liberty French medalist and engraver Oscar Roty began a revolution in 1897 that soon spread across the globe. With the introduction of his realistic, alluring, full-body portrait of the Sower, France (and eventually most of the world, including the United States) said goodbye to static, staid and idealized profile portraits of monarchs and Liberty. There was a new goddess in town, and she strode confidently forward into a golden age of coin design, the rising sun illuminating her footsteps. The echoes of this revolution in numismatic art reverberate to this day, as depicted on this coin. Known in France as La Semeuse, Oscar Roty's iconic Sower has been beguiling coin collectors for more than a century and a quarter! Despite her age she looks better than ever as she sows peace and prosperity for her people. A medalist and grand master of the art nouveau style, Roty designed the fin-de-siècle beauty in 1897, when she sauntered onto several denominations of French coins, including the keystone silver franc. Roty's Sower inspired and influenced several classic American coin designs, including Augustus Saint-Gauden's $20 double eagle gold piece; Adolph Weinman's famous Walking Liberty half dollar (later recycled for the American Eagle silver bullion dollar); and the U.S.-Philippines silver centavos and peso coins designed by Melicio Figueroa. The Sower appears to this day on French coinage, both circulating euro coins as well as silver and gold proof commemoratives such as this one. John Mercanti, A Numismatic Legend When John M. Mercanti retired as the 12th Chief Engraver of the United States Mint, he had accomplished one of the most storied careers in the Mint's history. He served as an engraver and sculptor for 37 years. The only engravers to serve longer were George T. Morgan (48 years), William Barber (47), and Frank Gasparro (39). Mercanti also designed, sculpted, or engraved more than 100 coin and medal designs, more than any other designer in U.S. Mint history. Mercanti's Mint career began in 1974 in the pre-digital age, when everything was done by hand. He concluded in 2010 when most of the design work at the Mint was done with the aid of digital technology. Mercanti's most notable design is the "Heraldic Eagle" reverse for the American Silver Eagle bullion series, struck from 1986 until 2021, a glorious run of 35 years! History in Your Hand This beautiful coin is historic, celebrating as it does the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, as well as the USA's oldest ally, France. But it was also designed at and struck by the most storied and historic mint in all the world, the Paris Mint (Monnaie de Paris). The Paris Mint was founded in the year 864 by French King Charles the Bald's Edict of Pistres. As such, it is the oldest continuously operating mint in the world and the 8th oldest continuously operating company or business concern. Obverse Lady Liberty, the personification of the United States, holds a billowing American flag between her outstretched arms, while a bald eagle flies above her with its wings spread. Liberty's diaphanous, off the shoulder gown likewise flows in the breeze in front of a background of stars. Appropriately, Liberty wears the tiara or crown of the Statue of Liberty, a gift from France on the occasion of the USA's centennial designed by Frederic Bartholdi and constructed by Gustave Eiffel of Eiffel Tower fame. The visual language of the soaring eagle, billowing flag, flowing gown, and Lady Liberty's outstretched arms and loose hairstyle all convey the allegory of Freedom and Liberty. There are no legends on this side that might detract from the beauty and power of the vignette. Reverse France's own Sower scatters the seeds of peace and prosperity for her country. In 1897, French medalist and engraver Oscar Roty was at the height of his artistic powers when he created the Sower, the original Walking Liberty. This beauty wears a classical toga with her head crowned by a laurel wreath. The national flag of France, le Tricolore, waves behind her. The entire vignette is framed by fruits of wheat, representing plenty and freedom from want. The date and denomination are indicated, while the legend RF (short for République Française, "The French Republic") also appears. The cornucopia mint mark of the Paris Mint is inside the left side of the plinth, while the designer's initials, JM, for John Mercanti, are to the right. Packaging The encapsulated coin resides inside a handsome black presentation case, with individually numbered certificate of authenticity. The outer black sleeve depicts the Sower and Walking Liberty, and serves to protect the presentation case. As such, some scuffing may be evident, as it's black. The images of the certificate are intended for general reference only. Serial numbers on images are NOT indicative of the serial number you will receive. Specifications Country France Mint Monnaie de Paris (The Paris Mint) Year of Issue 2024 Face Value 20 Euros Weight 31.104 g Diameter 37.00 mm Mintage 3,000 Finish Proof Composition .999 Fine (Pure) Silver Edge Smooth Artist obverse: Joaquin Jiminez reverse: John Mercanti Certificate Individually numbered Copyright © 2025 Talisman World Coins and Medals. All Rights Reserved.

Price: 128.95 USD

Location: Saint Louis, Missouri

End Time: 2025-02-04T06:31:49.000Z

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