2 Euro Commemorative Coin - French Republic 2010 popular - 70th anniversary of General De Gaulle's 18 June appeal "

The coin was issued June 18, 2010 popular to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the appeal delivered by General de Gaulle's June 18, 1940 by the BBC studios in London, real founding act of the French Resistance. From the offices of Radio London at 18:00 on June 18, 1940, after the resignation of the Prime Minister Paul Reynaud in favor of the collaborator Philippe Petain, and following the beginning of the negotiations for the armistice opened by the latter, the General Charles De Gaulle delivers his first message to the French nation: the war is not over, says the general, because it is a world war of which the Battle of France is only one episode. He then invites the French living in England to get in touch with him to continue the fight. The appeal of the still unknown general did not arouse particular enthusiasm.


On the left, General De Gaulle, in uniform with his head uncovered, in the act of reading the appeal in front of a microphone of the time; on the bottom right the initials “RF” (Republique Francaise) and on the top the writing “70 ANS APPEL 18 JUIN”; above, the thousandth of minting "2010" with the cornucopia, symbol of the Paris Mint, and the horn, symbol of the director of the Mint Hubert Larivière, on either side. On the outer edge 12 five-pointed stars representing the European Union. Author: Nicolas Cozan.