In recent weeks, millions of French schoolchildren from CP to CM2 have received an educational booklet on the 2024 Olympic Games, accompanied by a 2 euro collector's coin, engraved with an Eiffel Tower and struck by the Paris Mint. And already, on online resale sites, you can find this same piece at incredible prices. Up to 800 euros! “I heard on the news this morning that someone had managed to sell it for 1000 euros. I told myself that I would be able to sell it for 800 euros,” explains an individual who acts as a seller on Leboncoin. After negotiations, our advertiser agrees to sell it to us for 250 euros.
But before any transaction and to be clear, we went to the Godot & Fils boutique, one of the oldest experts in France in metal trading, located in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris. As soon as we arrive, a poster plastered on the store window alerts us. “We do not take back 2 euro coins”, we can read. “It’s to remind us that a 2-euro coin is worth, above all, 2 euros,” explains David Knoblauch, numismatist at Godot & Fils.
Also read: The 2 euro coin distributed to schoolchildren for the Olympics, a controversial operation costing nearly 16 million euros
The expert even indicates that this piece is far from being rare since, even if for the moment, only 4 million copies have been produced, by the end of June, these will be 24 million of these commemorative coins which will be put into circulation almost everywhere. “They will be available from merchants and when you buy your baguette, you will even be able to pay with this 2 euro coin,” continues our expert.
And for collectors impatient to wait until June, it will even be possible to obtain it on specialized sites for the sum of... 11 euros. We are far, very far from the 800 euros offered by our advertiser contacted on Leboncoin. “For the same amount, on the other hand, it is possible to treat yourself to a Louis d’or,” adds David Knoblauch. The 2 euro coin, made of cupronickel, has even less value than 2 euros. Only its rarity could allow it to exceed its legal value but this common item will remain above all a use item.”