Why are coins shaped as they are? Why choosing these very precious materials to make them? What are the different uses of coins in the world? As many questions Monnaie de Paris tries to answer from May 12 to September 25, 2022, with their latest exhibition, “Monnaies & Merveilles”.

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Whether they are made of gold, silver, feather (yes, feather!), mother of pearl, pearl or even iron, coins and especially currency come in a lot of shapes and values in history and world. Their diversity is surprising but always had one goal: enabling materialization of business transaction within a given group and outside of this one. Currency also expresses the position, prestige and wealth of an individual or even guarantees “balance and survival of the community”.

Genuine “sociability and exchange tools” laid bare by Monnaie de Paris, providing within the exhibition an almost anthropologic assessment of the relationship of humans to money. A transactional means coming in different shapes like Zaire’s Kuba velvet, Ivory Coast’s coin-bracelets, Timor textiles in South-Eastern Asia, or even rolls of feathers in the Polynesian Santa Cruz islands.

In all, 200 pieces are displayed to visitors, coming from collections of many great museums such as the musée du Quai Branly, the musée Guimet, the musée des Confluences in Lyon and the Mucem, as well as private galleries and owners. A beautiful exhibition taking visitors to a journey to the heart of currency habits and rituals through cultures and civilizations which elements helpint transactions are taken to the rank of masterpieces. In other words, an exhibition all fans of beautiful art objects shall visit... Shall we give it a go, friends?