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Message:: [QUOTE="satootoko, post: 43409, member: 669"]Okay, what makes you think it's copper? There are eight varieties of 5 franc coins dated 1870, all of them weighing 25g of .900 silver, and contains .7234 troy ounces of pure silver.  All but two say "5 FRANCS", so except for the thickness, yours sounds like either KM#799.1 (mint mark "A" for Paris) or KM#799.2 (mint mark "BB" for Strasbourg).  That coin has a left-facing bust of a beared Napoleon III wearing a wreath with the legend "NAPOLEON III EMPEREUR" on the obverse. l The reverse shows "EMPIRE FRANCAIS", the date at the very bottom, the "5" and "F" on the outer edgesat 4 o'clock, and a crown over crossed swords and a shield on the reverse. The only essai - a thick proof-like coin - for Napoleon III listed is a 100F dated 1854 (E19) with a very similar design. I still don't understand the reference to a coin that "opens up". The[/QUOTE]