A €2 coin issued by Monaco in 2018 has become a sought-after modern euro collectible, with listings reaching as high as €1,000. Produced in a limited run of 16,000 pieces, it commemorates the 250th anniversary of the birth of sculptor François Joseph Bosio. A Hamburger Abendblatt report described the Bosio-themed coin as selling for more than €400 on an online trading platform in October, while marketplace listings may quote higher prices. The figures reflect different kinds of market evidence: an advertised price is not necessarily the amount a buyer ultimately pays.
Unlike standard euro coins intended for everyday use, this Monaco edition was marketed to collectors in a numbered presentation case at an initial retail price of €120. Its proof finish combines a mirror-like background with matte relief, setting it apart from ordinary circulation strikes. Condition and completeness matter to collectors: the coin’s finish and the presence of its original case or accompanying documentation can influence what a particular specimen attracts on the market.
The national side displays a portrait of Bosio alongside his sculpture La Ninfa Salmacis, with “MONACO” above. The lower part of the design identifies Bosio and gives the years 1768 and 2018, his birth and the coin’s issue, respectively. The common reverse features the European map design used on €2 coins across the euro area. The coin is bimetallic, has a nickel core, and weighs 8.5 grams.
The €1,000 figure is best understood as an upper-end asking price, not a standard value for every example. The online-platform price above €400 reported by Hamburger Abendblatt offers a separate market reference, but individual prices depend on the specimen and the terms of sale. Collectors comparing offers should distinguish advertised prices from completed transactions and check whether the original numbered case is included.
Monaco’s reputation for scarce commemorative coins also reflects other, distinct issues. The principality’s 2015 €2 coin, marking the 800th anniversary of the first fortress on the Rock of Monaco, had a reported mintage of 10,000. Media estimates have placed its value at roughly €1,500-€2,000, depending on condition and demand. Those figures concern a different coin and should not be treated as a price guide for the 2018 Bosio issue. CHIP has also cited eBay prices of €3,500 for Monaco’s 2007 Grace Kelly coin and €2,300 for a 2015 issue, illustrating how online price claims vary between coins and marketplaces. Bosio, born in 1768, was a prominent sculptor, and the anniversary design gives the 2018 coin cultural as well as collector appeal.
