France 2 Euro D-Day Anniversary Commemorative

This is a French 2 euro commemorative coin issued in 2014 to mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings (the Débarquement of 6 June 1944 in Normandy). Like all circulating 2 euro pieces, it is bi-metallic, with a pale outer ring and a golden-toned centre, and it carries the legend “70e ANNIVERSAIRE DU DÉBARQUEMENT” together with the dual dates 1944-2014 and a ring of European Union stars.

Because it is a legal-tender commemorative rather than a collector-only medal, it was struck for circulation across the eurozone and shares the standard 2 euro shape, size, and common European reverse. It is one of France's annual national-theme 2 euro issues and remains a widely available, affordable modern commemorative.

The D-Day landings of 6 June 1944 opened the Western Allied campaign to liberate occupied France and remain one of the defining events of the Second World War. Normandy, where the landings took place, is a central site of French and Allied wartime memory.

In 2014, France marked the 70th anniversary of the landings with this circulating 2 euro commemorative, one of the several themed 2 euro coins that eurozone countries are permitted to issue each year in addition to their standard designs. The coin was produced by the Monnaie de Paris, France's national mint.

Such 2 euro commemoratives are struck in large numbers for general circulation, so this issue functioned both as everyday money and as a small national tribute, and it can still be found in change and in collector holdings across Europe.

National (commemorative) side: the D-Day / Débarquement design, the inscription “70e ANNIVERSAIRE DU DÉBARQUEMENT”, the paired dates 1944-2014, the letters RF for République Française, and the mint marks. A ring of twelve European Union stars runs around the outer edge.

Common European side: the standard “2” and map of Europe design shared by every 2 euro coin, also encircled by the twelve EU stars. This side is not unique to the issue and should not by itself be used to identify the coin.

Physical clues: a bi-metallic coin about 25.75 mm across and roughly 8.5 g, with a cupronickel-coloured outer ring and a golden-toned centre. The edge is lettered/finely reeded in the standard 2 euro pattern. The combination of the D-Day legend, the 1944-2014 dates, and the RF mark confirms the French 2014 type.

As a circulating commemorative struck in large numbers, this coin is common and generally trades at or a little above its 2 euro face value in worn or ordinary uncirculated condition. Everyday examples pulled from change are worth essentially face value to a small collector premium.

Higher premiums attach to specially packaged versions — mint-issued coincards, BU sets, or proof strikes — and to top-grade certified examples, which sell for more than loose circulation pieces. For a specific figure, compare recent sales of the same 2014 French issue in the same finish and grade, since packaging and condition drive most of the difference.