France 1897-A 2 centimes
The specimen shown is a two centimes, Cérès head, of a type struck under the Third Republic of France 1877-97. The majority, including this one, are Paris mint issues but Bordeaux produced this type in 1878. There are 23 dates in the series, none rare. The 1897-A is common. The total production for the series is about ten million, compared to 58 million Napoleon III "bare head" 2 centimes (1853-57) and 33 million "laureate head" 2 centimes (1861-62). The Cérès head was replaced by the "Marianne" head designed by Daniel-Dupuis (struck 1898-1920). All the bronze two centimes pieces were demonetized in 1940.
Recorded mintage: 1,250,000[1].
Specification: 2 g, bronze, 20 mm diameter, plain edge, designed by Eugéne-André Oudiné (1810-1887).
Catalog reference: F.109/23, Gad-105, KM 827.1.
- [1]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
- Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
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