On the banks of the River Seine, workers
chisel, press and engrave medals and memorabilia in the factory
that advertises itself as the oldest in the French capital, with
a history stretching back to the year 864.
Since the introduction of the euro in 2002, the mint - or the 'Monnaie
de Paris' - has passed industrial-scale production of everyday
coinage to a plant in the southwestern town of Pessac.
Its workforce, about 150-strong, is now counting on collectors,
the curious and tourists to give it a longer lease of life.
"Here we mint coins which still have a value," the mint's chief
executive, Aurelien Rousseau, said. "But it is indeed more often
collectors who are interested in these products."
Displays include ancient treasure chests, a coin dating back
more than 2,000 years and the platinum meter measure that
remains the international reference of the metric system.
(Reporting by Johnny Cotton; Writing by Brian Love; Editing by
Andrew Heavens)
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