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France will dedicate one of its 2026 commemorative €2 coins to the 400th anniversary of the Marine Nationale, the French Navy. The issue will commemorate the birth, in 1626, of a permanent and organized state navy, and will do so through a design that combines the traditional figure of the French sailor with the naval, submarine, and air assets of the current fleet.
The collection will consist of a 2 euro coin intended for circulation, as well as several presentations for collectors: official rolls of 25 coins in Brilliant Uncirculated quality, a BU version, another in Proof quality with color, a BU miniset and a commemorative 10 euro silver coin.
The Monnaie de Paris has set June 30, 2026, as the availability date for its collectible products. Meanwhile, the uncirculated €2 coin, with a announced mintage of 20 million, is expected to be released into circulation during July.
400 years of a State Navy
The anniversary does not commemorate the beginning of French naval activity, which naturally existed long before, but rather the institutionalization of a genuine navy dependent on the State.
In October 1626, the Edict of Saint-Germain, promoted by Cardinal Richelieu, established for the first time in France a permanent, organized State Navy under a unified command. This moment is considered by the French Navy (Marine Nationale) to be the starting point of its modern history.
During the following centuries, the French Navy went from becoming one of the great European fleets under Louis XIV to playing a decisive role in the Battle of the Chesapeake Bay in 1781, a naval victory that helped tip the scales of the American Revolutionary War.
The journey was not linear. The Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars dealt a heavy blow to the French fleet, but the Marine Nationale regained prominence in the 20th century. After the Second World War, it entered a new era marked by nuclear power, strategic submarines, and the addition of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.
The 2026 coin does not look to that past through an ancient ship or a historical scene. Its approach is different: it presents a modern sailor surrounded by the various elements that represent the French Navy in the 21st century.
This is the design of the 2 euro coin
The French side of the coin depicts a sailor seen from behind. He wears the traditional vareuse , the wide-collared naval garment, and the emblematic bâchi , the round cap associated with French sailors.
Before him unfolds a maritime scene that brings together various elements of the French Navy. The composition includes warships, a submarine, a diver, a helicopter, and naval aircraft. The design doesn't focus on a single unit but rather attempts to condense the diverse capabilities of the French Navy into a single image.
At the top are the letters “RF”, short for République Française. At the bottom, integrated into the sailor's back, is the inscription: 400 ans MARINE NATIONALE. The year 2026 appears to the right, next to the diver. The two mint marks are located in the lower left, below the submarine.
Print runs and announced versions
Presentation Print run and main data
Uncirculated 2 euro coin 20,000,000
Official Rolls 6,000 rolls of 25 coins in Mint condition. Total: 150,000 coins.
2 euro coin BU 15,000 copies.
2 euro Proof coin with color 15,000 copies. The French name is Belle Épreuve.
Miniset BU 500 units. Includes French coins from 2026 from 1 cent to 1 euro, plus the commemorative 2 euro coin.
10 euro silver coin 15,000 copies, in 333 thousandths silver.
The 2 euro coin intended for circulation
The main version of this issue will be the €2 coin intended for circulation. Data indicates a mintage of 20 million uncirculated coins.
This is a high mintage for a French commemorative coin and will allow the coin to have a real presence in circulation, especially within France. As with other €2 coins issued in large quantities, some will eventually reach other countries in the eurozone through the normal flow of cash.
This will be the only version intended for road use. All other versions will be aimed directly at collectors.
Characteristics of the 2 euro coin
FeatureDataCountry France
Year 2026
Face value 2 euros
Reason 400th anniversary of the French Navy
Quality Not circulating
Metal Base metal bimetallic
Weight 8.5 grams
Diameter 25.75 millimeters
Announced print run 20,000,000 copies
Planned distribution July 2026
Official roll of 25 coins in Mint condition
The Monnaie de Paris will also market the issue in official rolls of 25 coins. This presentation will have a mintage of 6,000 rolls, equivalent to 150,000 coins.
Each roll will contain 25 two-euro coins in Mint condition, a superior quality to ordinary circulating coins, intended to preserve specimens without signs of use. The packaging has been specifically designed for this anniversary and combines blue with the visual identity of the French Navy's 400th anniversary.
The face value contained in each roll will be 50 euros, while the official retail price in France has been set at 65 euros.
Official Roll Features
Feature Data
Presentation Official roll of 25 coins
Face value content 50 euros
Quality Coin Flor
Print run 6,000 rolls
Total coins 150,000 copies
Official price 65 euros
Sale date June 30, 2026
2 euro coin BU
The BU presentation, short for Universal Brilliance, will be limited to 15,000 pieces. The coin will be sold individually within a coincard inspired by the visual style of the French Navy.
Their design will be the same as the uncirculated coin, but the minting quality will be superior. BU coins are produced using new tools and are reserved for collectors, so they do not enter ordinary circulation.
The design features horizontal navy blue and white stripes, reminiscent of the striped fabric associated with French naval uniforms. The obverse of the coincard also displays the emblem created for the 400th anniversary of the French Navy.
Features of the BU version
Feature Data
Face value 2 euros
Quality BU / Universal Shine
Metal Base metal bimetallic
Weight 8.5 grams
Diameter 25.75 millimeters
Print run 15,000 copies
Official price 12 euros
Sale date June 30, 2026
2 euro Proof coin with color
The most carefully crafted version of the 2 euro coin will be the one minted in Proof quality, called Belle Épreuve by the Monnaie de Paris.
This is not an equivalent quality, but rather the official French designation for Proof coins. It is produced using specially prepared blanks and dies, as well as specific minting conditions. The result combines intensely lustrous backgrounds with matte reliefs, a very noticeable visual difference compared to BU or circulating coins.
In this version, color is added to the sailor's cap. The cap incorporates the blue, white, and red tones of the French flag, becoming the element that immediately distinguishes this edition from the other 2-euro coins in the series.
The print run will be 15,000 copies and its official sale price has been set at 32 euros.
Features of the Proof version
Feature Data
Face value 2 euros
Quality Proof / Belle Épreuve
Special finish Mirror backgrounds and matte reliefs
Color Bâchi wearing the colors of France
Metal Base metal bimetallic
Weight 8.5 grams
Diameter 25.75 millimeters
Print run 15,000 copies
Official price 32 euros
Sale date June 30, 2026
The BU miniset of only 500 units
The rarest option in the entire €2 issue will be the BU miniset. La Monnaie de Paris has limited this presentation to just 500 units.
The set will include current French coins dated 2026 from 1 cent to 1 euro, as well as the commemorative 2 euro coin dedicated to the French Navy. Its total face value will be 3.88 euros.
The presentation adopts the same blue, white, and red graphic design as the rest of the collection. Due to its limited mintage, it will be the most restricted of the €2 versions, although it doesn't include a different coin: the €2 piece will be the same BU coin presented in a special edition.
Features of the BU miniset
Feature Data
Presentation Miniset BU
Content 1 cent to 1 euro coins from 2026 and commemorative 2 euro coins
Quality BU / Universal Shine
Total face value 3.88 euros
Print run 500 units
Official price 57 euros
Sale date June 30, 2026
A 10 euro silver coin completes the issue.
The collection is not limited to the bimetallic 2 euro coin. The Monnaie de Paris will also issue a 10 euro silver coin, dedicated to the same anniversary and with a design adapted to a larger diameter.
The composition again shows the sailor with his back turned, wearing the bâchi colored in blue, white, and red. Around him are depicted the same elements of the contemporary French Navy: submarine, ships, helicopter, aircraft, and diver.
Being minted entirely in silver and having a larger surface area, the scene gains space and allows for a clearer appreciation of the different details of the design. Unlike the 2 euro coin, it does not feature the outer ring with the twelve stars of the European Union.
The coin will weigh 13 grams, have a diameter of 31 millimeters, and be minted in 333/1000 silver. It will be issued in standard quality, with a mintage of 15,000 units and an official price of 15 euros.
Characteristics of the 10 euro coin
Feature Data
Country France
Year 2026
Face value 10 euros
Reason 400th anniversary of the French Navy
Metal 333/1000 silver
Weight 13 grams
Diameter 31 millimeters
Quality Current
Special finish Bâchi colorizado
Print run 15,000 copies
Official price 15 euros
Sale date June 30, 2026
Commemorative 2 euro coins 2026
Commemorative 2 euro coins from France
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