25 Years of the Pink Ribbon

Since the 1990s, the fight against breast cancer has been a cause of global importance. For nearly fifteen years, France has annually awarded a Pink Ribbon Prize to support breast cancer research and promote innovative treatments. At the centre of the coin, a female breast is symbolically shown protected by the ribbon and a hand; on the right side the inscription "25e ANNIVERSAIRE DU RUBAN ROSE" (25th Anniversary of the Pink Ribbon). Also on the right: the dates "1992–2017", the issuing country abbreviation "RF", and the mint marks.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. In France, more than 60,000 women are newly diagnosed each year, making the country one of the most affected in Europe. The international breast cancer awareness movement - symbolised by the pink ribbon - emerged in the United States in the early 1990s and quickly spread across the Atlantic. In France, the campaign rapidly gained a firm foothold in society: medical institutions, companies and state bodies joined forces to bring early detection and research funding to public attention. October became the international month of breast cancer awareness, in which France has since been particularly visible with its own campaigns and events.

For around fifteen years, France has awarded an annual Pink Ribbon prize recognising outstanding contributions to breast cancer research and the development of innovative treatments. The initiative exemplifies a public-private partnership that has specifically accelerated scientific work - from improving diagnostic procedures to targeted therapies that have significantly increased survival rates in recent decades. With the French 2-euro commemorative coin of 2017, France honoured the 25th anniversary of this movement, setting an official mark of the country's ongoing societal commitment to the fight against breast cancer.