The Little Prince - Book - 22,5g - Silver Proof Collector Coin

First published in France in 1946, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince is much more than a children's story: it is a universal work that transcends generations and celebrates poetry, friendship and wonder at the world. Translated into 627 languages and dialects, this timeless story has become one of the most read and translated books in the world.

Written and illustrated by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince was first published in 1943 in New York in English and French before being published in France in 1946 by Gallimard, where it became a bestseller with more than 15 million copies sold.

To mark the 80th anniversary of the publication of this iconic work in France, Monnaie de Paris pays tribute to the Little Traveller from the Stars with a collection that illustrates 80 years of adventures and journeys, highlighting the different modes of transport associated with the Little Prince's adventures. Planes, planets, compasses, telescopes and luggage come together in original designs that call out for adventure. The Little Prince is an initiatory story in which the protagonist leaves his planet to discover others. By highlighting travel, Monnaie de Paris also pays direct homage to Antoine de Saint Exupéry, who was himself a great traveller thanks to his profession as an aviator.

On the obverse, the Little Prince and the fox sit in a wide-open book that seems to float against the backdrop of a starry sky. The two heroes, leaning over opposite edges of the book, look as if they are searching for something. A storm lamp and a compass lie beside the Little Prince, suggesting that the child and his friend are on an exploratory quest, ready to illuminate dark places and navigate the depths of the universe in which they find themselves. The open book not only serves as their literal vehicle, but also recalls the medium that has conveyed the story of the Little Prince for 80 years. Out of the open book come the most beautiful stories and dreams come true. In the sky, where a single planet floats among the stars, the name "The Little Prince" is stamped along the edge of the coin.

On the reverse side of the coin, the logo for the 80th anniversary of the Little Prince appears above the denomination, which consists of a bust of a figure leaning on his arm in front of the number 80. Along the edge, the inscription "The Little Prince" in French, English, German and Japanese recalls the universal dimension of this figure. Also depicted are the RF mark, the marks of the engraver's workshop and master engraver, and the year 2026.