The Lion King — Mufasa, Simba and Scar (silver 5 oz)

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 largest silver coin of the collection is a 50-euro coin weighing five ounces (155.5 grams) in .999 silver, diameter 50 millimetres, Belle Épreuve, a mintage of only 500 pieces and a mint price of 1,040 euros. Numista describes it as “Coloured, Milled” (KM# 3464, N# 441398): partial colour printing on the artistic side. The coin lies in the same case with a certificate as the rest of the proof range. A mintage of 500 makes it as scarce as the 50-euro gold coin, but its price is noticeably gentler: the five-ounce silver coin is a way to obtain the large format of the collection without a gold budget.

The subject is tension around the throne. According to the mint, Mufasa watches over his mischievous son Simba, who already wishes to be king but must beware of his uncle Scar, lurking in his brother’s shadow, accompanied by the three hyenas Shenzi, Banzai and Ed. This very scene sets up the conflict of the film: the hyenas are the striking force of Scar’s plot, and their laughter “Hi, hi!” became their signature intonation.

Obverse

The artistic side: the hyenas, Scar and — in colour — Simba with his father Mufasa; the hyenas’ cries “HI, HI !” and the year “2024” can be read in the field.

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 “50 EURO”, the initials of the French Republic “RF”, the copyright mark “© Disney”, the Disney logo and the inscription “LE ROI LION”.