Coins often stir controversy; France's recent coin design faced rejection by the European Commission due to visibility issues.
France, as a member of the EU currency union, must adhere to EC approval for coin designs; failure leads to costly consequences.
The EC rejected France's proposed coin design as the stars representing the EU were deemed too indistinct.
Monnaie de Paris, tasked with minting French coins, faced the challenge of destroying and replacing 27 million rejected coins.
Amidst the chaos, blame was shifted between Monnaie de Paris, French Economy Ministry, and Minister for Economic Affairs and Finance.
After formal rejection, a corrected coin design was submitted and approved, marking the end of the ordeal for France.
The chosen designs reflect French heritage, with Marianne and the sower symbolizing resilience and integration into Europe.