France, 10 centimes 1968

[ghipszky]

I think this coin is from France? What I am most curious about is the metal it is made of and the designs next the date. The one on the left looks like an owl.
Ginger
Your input is always appreciated

[translateltd]

Hi Ginger,

Yes, France.  The alloy is aluminium-bronze (like your Monaco franc that we discussed recently).  The symbols beside the date are the privy marks of the French mint (was Paris / Vincennes, now somewhere else - Peter will remind me, I'm sure!); one is constant (the cornucopia, I think, representing the mint), whereas the other (owl, fish, etc.) changes every time there is a new mintmaster, so sometimes you get two different symbols used in a single year.

Martin
NZ

[ghipszky]

Thanks Martin,
I like that metal combination, it makes the coins very beautiful and shiny.
I thought it was France, but the reverse words were weird.
Interesting that each of these mintmasters would choose their own symbols. These two come from the ancient world of course.
ginger

[Figleaf]

obv: a bust left of a girl with flowing hair. This is Marianne, personification of the French Republic. This symbol dates from the French revolution. The legend REPULIQUE FRANÇAISE means Republic of France. LAGRIFFOUL is for Henri Lagriffoul (1907-1981), a French sculptor and the designer of the obverse. His bio (in French) is here.

rev: denomination 10 CENTIMES and date 1968 flanked by (left) a horn of plenty, mark of the Régie de la Monnaie (state minting service) since 1880 and (right) an owl, mark of the engraver-general Raymond Joly (used from October 1958 to April 1974). These are flanked by two ears of wheat (below right), a branch of olive (below left) and the text LIBERTE EGALITE FRATERNITE - liberty equality brotherhood, the slogan of the French revolution. Although the plants are usually symbols of agriculture and peace respectively, they can also be taken as symbols of Northern France and Southern France. This side was designed by Adrien Dieudonné (1912-1982).

The type was approved by decree of 22nd december 1959 and put into circulation by a decision of 13th november 1961. It was struck with dates 1962-2001). A total of over 5 billion pieces were struck, of which 111 703  000 pieces with the date 1968. It was taken out of circulation when France switched to the euro on 1st January 2002. It could be exchanged for euro denominated money until 17h February 2005.

@ Martin: the Paris mint was situated in the Château de Vincennes at times in the Middle Ages, but at the time, it was probably an ambulant mint. It was established in a variety of buildings on the Ile de la Cité, part of the old palace complex that has disappeared. It moved to the Hôtel des Monnaies on Quai Conti in Paris in 1775. This coin was struck there. In 1973, coining was moved to a plant at Pessac, near Bordeaux.

Peter

[ghipszky]

Peter,
Thanks so much for all the information about this beautiful coin! I have learned alot.
And I learned that the college I went to Vincennes University in southern Indiana might have got its name from French origins.

The thing I also find interesting are the different images on the coin from the people that designed it and minted it.
Ginger