A 1999 euro coin made in France could command amounts of up to 1,800 euros at auction.

The 1999 coin is considered rare due to a number of factors. The design features the number “one” in gold and silver on one side, and on the reverse is the French national motto “Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité” and a tree. This side also includes the minting date, 1999, which is the historic year in which the euro began to circulate in the economies of the European Union.

Although the design is quite similar to the European standard, what makes this coin especially valuable is its connection to the beginning of the circulation of the euro. In 1999, the coin was still a novelty, which resulted in limited production.

According to HuffPost, this high value (around €1,800) is largely related to its historical context and the scarcity of the coin. In the year of issuance, the euro coexisted with other currencies, which limited the circulation of that specific version of the currency. The small number of coins produced and the fact that they are transitional pieces make them extremely coveted by collectors.