On the Seine at 11 Quai de Conti, Monnaie de Paris is France’s historic mint and a museum about money, metalwork and the making of coins and medals. Inside its 18th-century neoclassical building, you can explore coins from ancient Greece and Rome to modern times, learn how minting techniques developed and see coin-making machinery. Exhibitions add a changing art program; an M.C. Escher show has included interactive displays and explanations of his artistic development. An audio guide can add context to the visit.
A mint with more than twelve centuries of history
Monnaie de Paris was founded in 864 and remains an operating French institution. Its work has included producing coins, medals and other crafted objects. The museum, which opened in 2017, makes the history and techniques of that work accessible to visitors.
The Hôtel de la Monnaie, its home on the Seine, was built between 1771 and 1777. The neoclassical building is part of the visit: its architectural setting connects the museum’s displays to the mint’s long history in Paris. The site is in the 6th arrondissement, at 11 Quai de Conti.
Coins, metalwork and minting
The collections cover currency across a long span of time, including coins from ancient Greece and Rome as well as modern periods. Displays explain how coins and medals are made and how metalworking techniques have changed. The museum also looks at the history of currency in France, including the franc.
Look out for the machinery used in coin production and for exhibits that bring the process to life. The collections go beyond finished coins: ingots and objects connected with recovered treasure also appear among the material on display. Together, these items help explain both the practical work of minting and the craft behind it.
Art exhibitions and a visit with children
The museum’s program includes temporary art exhibitions alongside its displays on money and minting. The M.C. Escher exhibition described in the material paired works from different stages of his artistic career with interactive elements and explanatory text. A reflective globe greeted visitors at the entrance to that show. Exhibition programs change, so check what is scheduled for your visit.
Families can make use of a small treasure-hunt booklet mentioned for children at a special exhibition. An audio guide is another way to follow the displays. The museum has a coat check, restrooms and a restaurant, and lists wheelchair-accessible entrances and restrooms, an assistive hearing loop, and tours for visitors with visual impairments.
Häufige Fragen
Where is Monnaie de Paris?
It is at 11 Quai de Conti in Paris’s 6th arrondissement, on the Seine.
What can you see at Monnaie de Paris?
The museum covers coins from ancient Greece and Rome to modern times, the history of French currency, and the techniques used to make coins and medals. Temporary art exhibitions are also part of its program.
Can you visit with children?
Yes. The museum is family-friendly, and a small treasure-hunt booklet has been available for children at a special exhibition.
Is Monnaie de Paris wheelchair accessible?
The museum lists a wheelchair-accessible entrance and restroom.
