Two beautiful coins that will grace my collection.

I receive a free newsletter in my E-mail featuring numismatic news and information from numismaster.com. Periodically, they feature articles on foreign coin designs and provide links to foreign mints. Frequently, the Perth Mint buys advertising space on the newsletter. Many times, I have perused the Perth Mint?s website to see what?s cooking in Australia.

One particular newsletter highlighted coin designs from France and provided the web link to ?Monnaie De Paris?, France?s mint. The coins featured in the newsletter were of no particular interest to me, but I was curious as to what I would find on the website. Checking through the site, I found two really cool coins that would fit well in my ?Inspirational Ladies? signature set. Still, another coin on the site commemorating the ?Concorde? I may have to buy just because I think it?s neat.

Because the design of these two silver coins about the size of a US silver dollar was so striking, I decided I wanted them for my signature set. The first thing I did was check E-Bay for any on sale. After going through E-Bay?s listings proved fruitless, I decided to buy the coins directly from the mint. For the most part, I am somewhat hesitant to establish accounts with any firm I am not familiar with on the Internet. Nevertheless, after consideration and the recommendation from numismaster.com, I decided to establish an account and purchase the coins.

Well, the coins arrived this week, and they are stunning. My two proof coins were well packaged and struck. I cannot wait to send them into NGC for grading; I think that at least one of them has a chance of grading PFUC-70.

The obverse of the one coin features Marianne as ?The Sower? and the reverse commemorates the 50th anniversary of the European Court of Human Rights. On the obverse of the other coin is a bust of the goddess ?Europa?. The reverse commemorates the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. With the Brandenburg Gate as a backdrop, the wall is crumbling down, changing into doves flying free. The denomination of each of these silver coins is 10 Euros.

I am providing pictures of my recent purchases, and I hope you agree with me on the beauty of these coins, especially the ?Europa? coin. If anyone is interested in the ?Monnaie De Paris? website, write me a few lines, and I will send you the link. Wishing all of you a happy collecting experience, Gary.