The Paris Mint said Tuesday that it would soon start selling solid-gold coins for investment, the first since it quit making Napoleons and Louis a century ago.
Four versions of the new Marianne coins will go on sale June 16th, ranging from 3.1 grams to 31.1 grams.
One side will feature the symbolic Marianne face representing the French republic, while the other will show a map of the nation's territories, the Mint said.
They will compete on the global market with South African Krugerrands, Canadian Maple Leafs or American Gold Eagles.
The goal is to "democratise the gold market in France", the Mint's chief Marc Schwartz told journalists ahead of the launch, citing "investor demand" as prices have soared in recent years.
