French designer Starck mints new euro coins

PARIS (Reuters) - French designer Philippe Starck, creator of chic hotels, high-tech lamps and modernistic furniture, turned his hand to the world of hard currency with the design of a new euro coin to mark France's EU presidency.

Inside a workshop at the French Mint Coin Museum in Paris, Starck and Finance Minister Christine Lagarde operated a hulking machine to mint the first run.

The two euro coins are stamped with the year 2008 and the initials of the French republic, which takes up the 27-member EU's six-month rotating presidency on July 1.

Famous for interiors that included the private apartments of former Socialist President Francois Mitterrand, and products such as the spider-like Juicy Salif fruit juicer, Starck also developed inexpensive collections for American retailer Target.

The 20 million new coins will go into circulation on July 1 and be valid currency in the 15 euro zone countries as well as other areas where the euro is used.

(Reporting by Brian Rohan; Editing by Ibon Villelabeitia)