Paris, France — Hunger Stones are a common marker in some European rivers. From the German word, hunger stein, hunger stones mark water levels during severe drought. They remind and warn future generations of the hardships endured in the past since you can see the carved years of past drought. And today they have taken on a new mission as a warning for climate change and impending ecological disaster. A notable hunger stone that resurfaced in the Elbe River in the Czech Republic in 2018 carried upon it it’s warning in German, “Wenn du mich siehst, dann weine,”  which translates into « If you see me, weep. »

This year the Monnaie de Paris, the Paris Mint and the oldest company in France, presented its third Monnaie de Paris Prize to the designer and architect Thomas Noui who was assisted by the teams at La Monnaie to create his award-winning medal, Hungerstein, which becomes part of the Monnaie’s permanent collection. His creation was inspired by the hunger stones. The medal, like most recent medals and coins wasn’t struck, but rather cast and the result is a reminder replete with a message that the time has come to take care of our planet. He conceived the medal as an artifact, he explained, adding that is takes the shape of a pebble-like stone. The medal will naturally corrode over time, revealing its message. The French Mint throughout its long and illustrious existence has worked closely with artists and designers to create its most emblematic of objects, the medal. In 2020, the establishment launched its Paris Mint Prize to encourage exchanges with artists and to showcase the knowhow of its arts and craftsmen. In the second half of the 20th century the Mint has worked in its workshops with artists like Dali, César and Brassaï.

The French Mint, known as La Monnaie in French, is located on the banks of the Seine in Paris and was officially founded in 864 with the Edict of Pistres in which Charles the Bald, the King of West Francia, decreed the creation of a coining workshop in Paris attached to the crown. The Mint, the Monnaie de Paris, is regarded as France’s longest standing institution and potentially the oldest enterprise in the world. The mint and its collection are open to the public. Reservations are recommended. ©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette.  https://www.monnaiedeparis.fr/