Georges Mathieu (1921–2012) Original Plaster Model—monnaie De Paris, 1981

Diameter: 24 cm
Thickness: 2 cm

Rare circular plaster model directly related to the creation of the famous French 10 Franc coin designed by Georges Mathieu for the Monnaie de Paris.

The composition corresponds to the reverse design of the coin introduced in 1974. It displays the artist's distinctive visual language: a network of geometric structures, dynamic lines and forms evoking industrial modernity, expressing a vision of France driven by technological and economic progress.

The reverse bears an important handwritten workshop inscription:

"E83 – Model with lowered grounds seen by Mr. Mathieu, delivered by Rousseau to the workshop on October 13, 1981."

This annotation provides direct evidence of the production process within the workshops of the Monnaie de Paris. The "Rousseau" mentioned can be identified as Émile Rousseau (1927–2010), Chief Engraver of the Monnaie de Paris from 1974 to 1994.

The 1981 date, postdating the coin's introduction, appears to correspond to a phase of technical study or adaptation of the original model. The expression "lowered grounds" belongs to the vocabulary of coin engraving and refers to modifications of the relief intended to improve striking quality and the legibility of the design.

By its very nature, this plaster model is a unique piece and a rare workshop document preserving the memory of the creative process behind one of the most iconic French coins of the Fifth Republic.

Condition: minor edge chips and peripheral wear consistent with workshop use.

This work occupies a singular position at the crossroads of several collecting fields.

For numismatic collectors, it represents an exceptional testimony to the development process of a coin that became part of everyday life for millions of French people. Surviving working models from the workshops of the Monnaie de Paris remain scarce on the market, particularly when they bear annotations referring both to the artist and to the Chief Engraver.

For collectors of contemporary art, the appeal lies elsewhere. Freed from inscriptions, denomination and monetary constraints, the composition reveals the full graphic power of Georges Mathieu's design. The motif can be appreciated as an autonomous abstract bas-relief in which architecture, writing and movement interact in remarkable balance.

The matte white surface of the plaster highlights both the subtlety of the relief and the vitality of the engraved lines. Displayed on a wall or mounted on a stand, the model possesses a striking decorative presence that evokes both 1970s design and the formal explorations of French lyrical abstraction.

At once a historical document and a sculptural object, this piece perfectly illustrates the meeting point between artistic creation, industrial design and the craftsmanship of the Monnaie de Paris.