Weekly World Mint Coinage: June 18, 2026

Spain - Real Casa de la Moneda

Silver Commemorative Coins Features Air Force Cadet Princess Leonor

Her Royal Highness the Princess of Asturias, heir apparent to the Spanish throne, has completed her compulsory military training. She served in all three branches of the Spanish armed forces in recent years. To mark the achievement, silver commemorative coins are being issued by the Real Casa de la Moneda.

The Princess is the eldest daughter of HM King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia. As the future monarch, Princess Leonor is preparing for a role that carries both symbolic and constitutional responsibilities.

At just 20 years old, Leonor, Princess of Asturias became the first woman in Spanish history to earn officer credentials across all three military branches. The Princess has now concluded her three years of military education, a necessary step for her to one day become Captain General of the Armed Forces.

As part of her demanding training, Princess Leonor became the first member of the Spanish Royal Family to complete military parachute training. Military service has long been part of her family’s tradition. Her father, King Felipe VI, and her grandfather, King Juan Carlos I, both served in the armed forces. Since her military training is now complete, the Princess of the Asturias will return to reside at Zarzuela Palace after nearly five years away from home. She is expected to enroll at the Autonomous University Madrid -UAM, her father’s alma mater. 

The obverse of the coin features an effigy of Princess Leonor de Bourbon y Ortiz in the uniform of the Spanish Air Force and Space. This detail is reminiscent of last year’s issue, in which she was shown wearing the midshipman's uniform worn during part of her training in the Navy. Above the image of the princess near the upper rim is legend FELIPE VI REY DE ESPANA - 2026 and alongside the legend and year of release are two propellers which serve as decorative elements and referencing the Air Force. Between them is the additional text PRINCESSA LEONOR below her likeness.

The reverse features a representation of the Pilatus PC-21 E-27, the training aircraft in which Princess Leonor has carried out her practical exercises as part of her military training as a second lieutenant at the General Air Academy. Near the upper right rim is the text ACADEMIA GENERAL DEL AIRE Y DEL ESPACIO referencing the Spanish Academy of Air and Space. Below the aircraft is the now-familiar quadruple latent image, which this year includes alternating images of an airplane, a propeller, the numeral 26 along with the crowned M as distinguishing elements. The crowned M mintmark is also shown just to the right of the latent image and the denomination 60 EURO is seen just above the aircraft which includes vivid colour.

Each uncirculated coin is sealed in a cellophane envelope and available for its face value in commercial banks, post offices and from the e-webshop of the Fabrica Nacional Moneda y Timbre – Real Casa de la Moneda. It is available for pre-order at https://realcasadelamoneda.es/moneda60-academiadelaire/

France - Monnaie de Paris

Gold and Silver Coins Mark the 250th Anniversary of American Independence

The Monnaie de Paris is joining in the celebration of the United States Semiquincentennial anniversary of independence. In 2020, an inspiring series History of American Independence was launched with the first coins remembering the arrival of Lafayette in Boston. For 2026, a reinterpretation of the Libertas Americana medal remembers the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the United States.

In early 1782, American statesman Benjamin Franklin entrusted a very special medal project to Esprit - Antoine Gibelin (1739 – 1823) a French painter and archaeologist. The project was finalised by engraver Augustin Dupré and minted at Monnaie de Paris in silver and bronze. Franklin offered two special gold strikes each to King Louis XVI and Queen Marie- Antoinette, as well as silver pieces to each of the ministers to thank the French political authorities for their support during the American Revolution. The bronze medals would soon be sent to each member of Congress and since the Libertas Americana project was Benjamin Franklin's personal initiative, he bore the costs alone. The medal’s design was meant to symbolise the birth of friendship between France and the newly recognised United States.

The latest range of collector coins combines both the new obverse design with the classic reverse of the Libertas Americana medals. Now, 250 years later, two allegorical figures stand proudly side by side. Minerva, representing France, holds the same shield with three fleur-de-lis, and wears the helmet and breastplate as on the original medal. Lady Liberty, representing the United States, holds the tablet from the Statue of Liberty, on which is written the date of American independence in Roman numerals JULY IV MDCCLXXVI. Together, they each hold the flame of liberty with the initials RF representing REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE placed between the two standing figures with the year of issue 2026 shown on the left. The phrase LIBERTAS POPULUSQUE UNIVERSALIS which translates as “freedom and universal peoples” is placed above the primary design along the upper rim. The date 4 JUIL .1776 is placed below the figures. The reverse side of this year’s collection is identical to that of the LIBERTAS AMERICANA collection from 2023.

 Each gold and silver Proof option is encapsulated to accommodate the high relief strike and presented in a custom case accompanied with a certificate of authenticity. For additional information, please visit the e-webshop of the Monnaie de Paris.

Canada - Royal Canadian Mint

Silver Collector Coin Honours Milestone Anniversary of Military College

Silver proof coins marking the 150ᵗʰ anniversary of the founding of the Royal Military College of Canada are now available from the Royal Canadian Mint. Since 1876, the Royal Military College of Canada or, RMC, has delivered education, training, and research of the highest calibre, earning international recognition and a reputation as a military university of academic excellence. That legacy is embodied by more than 26,000 graduates who have risen to the highest levels of service in Canada’s armed forces, public institutions, and beyond. The RMC is located on Point Frederick in Kingston, Ontario, whose complex includes a combination of historic buildings and more modern academic, athletic, and dormitory facilities.

The institution was to be the first military college established in a colonial dependency and began with 18 cadets under the first commandant Major-General Edward Osborne Hewett. The new college, originally known as the Military College of Canada, conducted their first classes on the 1st June 1876. It was not until 1878 that Queen Victoria granted the college permission to use the prefix ‘Royal’.

As Canada had very limited permanent armed forces at the time, most of the cadets sought careers in the private sector, and many families sent their sons to the college to prepare them for civilian careers. Since 1959, the RMC has been recognised as a degree-granting accredited university of the Canadian Armed Forces.

In 1969, the RMC became an official bilingual college and in September 1980, the first 32 female cadets were accepted for their first year of studies at RMC. Today, the Royal Military College of Canada offers a curriculum which prepares officer cadets for a long career in the profession of arms and continues the development of other Canadian Armed Forces members and civilians with an interest in defence issues.

The reverse design by artist Neil Hamelin features the national flag of Canada flying over the iconic RMC clock tower, accompanied by the RMC flag’s banner and motto, TRUTH DUTY VALOUR and VÉRITÉ DEVOIR VAILLANCE. The commemorative years 1876 – 2026 are shown just above the banner. The five four-pointed stars to the left and right of the tower represent former RMC cadets who went on to become Canadian Space Agency astronauts. Along the rim above the primary design is the commemorative text ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE OF CANADA and COLLÈGE MILITAIRE ROYAL DU CANADA. The obverse side features the effigy of King Charles III by Canadian artist Steven Rosati. The legend CHARLES III CANADA D · G · REX surrounds the effigy. The denomination 20 DOLLARS is placed just under the King’s likeness.

The silver Proof coins are encapsulated and presented in a custom case accompanied with a certificate of authenticity. For additional information, please visit the e-webshop of the Royal Canadian Mint.