The Lion King — Hakuna Matata (silver .999)

The Lion King is a feature-length animated film by Walt Disney Animation Studios, released in June 1994; it was directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff and produced by Don Hahn. It tells the story of the lion cub Simba, heir to the throne in the Pride Lands: his father, King Mufasa, dies as a result of a scheme by his own brother Scar, the boy flees in despair, finds new friends — the meerkat Timon and the warthog Pumbaa, who live by the motto “Hakuna Matata” (“no worries” in Swahili) — but returns as an adult to accept responsibility and restore harmony to the kingdom. This is exactly how the mint itself describes the film: a true journey of initiation in which the hero must overcome a tragic loss, forgive himself for his mistakes and take his rightful place. The music was written by Hans Zimmer, the songs by Elton John and Tim Rice; “Circle of Life”, “Hakuna Matata” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” have long lived on their own, and in 1995 the film won Academy Awards for its score and for the song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”. The plot is often compared with Shakespeare’s Hamlet: a murdered king, a usurping uncle and an heir who must reclaim what is his. Later came a Broadway musical (1997), Jon Favreau’s live-action version (2019) and the film Mufasa: The Lion King (December 2024).

For the 30th anniversary of the premiere the Paris Mint (Monnaie de Paris) issued, under a Disney licence, the collection “Disney — The Lion King, 30th anniversary” (Le Roi Lion, 30ème anniversaire). According to the mint and the Numista catalogue it comprises seven coins: three silver 10-euro coins (a coloured .333 silver coin in a card, a coloured .999 silver “Hakuna Matata” coin and a rectangular uncoloured .999 silver coin), a five-ounce silver 50-euro coin and three gold coins of 5, 50 and 200 euros. The mint calls it a “new collection” celebrating the timeless heritage of Walt Disney, where the studio’s characters meet the age-old craftsmanship of the Monnaie de Paris; a separate miniset of the three new French 10, 20 and 50 euro-cent coins (mintage 500) was also released — it is not counted as a coin of the issue. The engraver of all the round coins of the collection, according to Numista, is Joaquin Jimenez, chief engraver of the Mint since 2020.

The round “Hakuna Matata” coin is a coloured proof 10-euro coin in .999 silver: weight 22.2 grams, diameter 37 millimetres, plain edge, Belle Épreuve (BE, proof) quality, mintage 5,000 pieces, mint price 151 euros. The coin comes in a case (écrin) with a certificate; the case is common to the whole proof range of the collection. Belle Épreuve is the highest numismatic quality: specially prepared blanks and dies, mirror fields and matt reliefs, so the design stands out very sharply. Numista describes the coin as “Coloured, Milled” and lists it as KM# 3455. Among the three ten-euro coins of the collection this is the one for those who want precisely a coloured proof: its design matches the 50-euro gold coin (the “Hakuna Matata” subject), so the pair is often collected together.

Obverse

The artistic side: Timon, Pumbaa and the young Simba singing “Hakuna Matata”, in colour print; the coin carries the inscription “HAKUNA MATATA !” and the year “2024”. The three friends are shown in the very episode in which Simba, who has escaped from Scar, embraces the “no worries” philosophy — the most cheerful scene of the film, and the song is one of the most recognisable in the history of Disney animation.

Reverse

The official side shows Mufasa majestically rising above Lion’s Rock — a symbol of the strength and wisdom inherited by Simba. It also carries the face value “10 EURO”, the initials of the French Republic “RF”, the copyright mark “© Disney”, the Disney logo and the inscription “LE ROI LION”.