France 1941 10 centimes KM-897
The first specimen was part of lot 469 in Classical Numismatic Group's sale of the Lissner Collection (Chicago, July 2014), where it sold for $786.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. Lot of sixteen (16) Æ-AL, AL, CU-NI, and ZN Denominations. Lot includes the following denominations: ...État Français (Vichy). 1940-1944. ZN 10 Centimes. Paris mint; différents: cornucopia and wing. Lucien Bazor, engraver general. Régie des Monnaies, directors. Dated ·1941·. With dots. In NGC encapsulation graded MS 66. Gem uncirculated with tons of original luster...." Other ten centimes of 1941 include F.140/1 (no dots by date), F.140A/1 (CMES not underlined) and F.141/2 (Vichy type of 1941-43). The collapse of the franc after World War One deeply dislocated the French economy and the Great Depression aggravated the problem. Economic weakness impaired France's ability to resist Nazi aggression and inflation during Nazi occupation was a serious problem for the civilians forced to eke out a living. In 1939, bread was 3.10 francs/kg; in 1945, 6.67 francs/kg; in 1950, 35.4 francs/kg[1]. This coin is very common in circulated condition but hard to find choice. The issue of ten centimes ceased in 1946, not to resume until 1962 with the new franc.
Recorded mintage: 235,875,200[1] (including the Vichy type).
Specification: 2.5 g, zinc, 21 mm diameter, plain edge; the first specimen Ø21 mm, 5.00 g, 6h axis.
Catalog reference: F.140/2, Gad-288c; KM 897.
- Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
- [2]Teller, M. Louis, and Victor England, Jr., The Richard Lissner Collection, Lancaster, PA: Classical Numismatic Group, 2014.
Link to: