Jeu Numismatique

Published January 28, 2025 Updated January 28, 2025

European coins of all periods replace the traditional courts and pips.

1994 France France Cartes Currency Historical

In the run-up to the introduction of the euro on 1 January 1999, there was much discussion about which common currency should be adopted across Europe. Illustrated in this pack are some of the forerunners of the euro including the écu. The suits are divided as follows: Clubs – Silver of Antiquity; Hearts – Gold of the Middle Ages; Spades – From the Renaissance to the Modern World; Diamonds – Monetary Union. Each of the court cards, aces and Jokers carries the name of the coin and the country of origin, with further information about each in the accompanying leaflet in French and English. On the numeral cards, the pips have been replaced by smaller versions of the coins which appear on the aces (except for the suit of Clubs). “Le Monnoyeur” (The Money Changer) from Nicolas de Larmessin’s series of engravings called “Les costumes grotesques et les metiers” is depicted on the reverse against either a red or a blue background.

Jeu Numismatique playing cards made and published by France Cartes, Saint-Max, France, 1994 Jeu Numismatique playing cards made and published by France Cartes, Saint-Max, France, 1994 Jeu Numismatique playing cards made and published by France Cartes, Saint-Max, France, 1994
Jeu Numismatique playing cards made and published by France Cartes, Saint-Max, France, 1994

Above: Jeu Numismatique playing cards made and published by France Cartes, Saint-Max, France, 1994. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 title card + leaflet in French and English, in tuck box. Size: 63 x 88 mm. © France Cartes. France 1994

See the boxes

• See the leaflet FrenchEnglish

The pack was compiled with the collaboration of Bruno Collin (b.1956), a French historian and coin specialist.

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By Roddy Somerville

Member since May 31, 2022

Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.

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