France 1889-A 2 centimes

from the Mountain Groan Collection

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 1889 is a common date. The total production for the series is about ten million, compared to 58 million Napoleon III "bare head" two centimes (1853-57) and 33 million "laureate head" two 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: 600,000.

Specification: 2 g, bronze, 20 mm diameter, plain edge, designed by Eugéne-André Oudiné (1810-1887).

Catalog reference: KM-827.1; Gad-105, F.109/15.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
• Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.

Link to:

• 1888-A 2 centimes
• 1889-A centime
• 1889-A 5 centimes
• 1889-A 10 centimes
• 1889-A 50 centimes
• 1889-A franc
• 1889-A gold 5 francs
• 1889-A 10 francs
• 1889-A 20 francs
• 1889-A 50 francs
• 1889-A 100 francs
• 1890-A 2 centimes
• Coins and currency dated 1889