I have a 1 Franc piece dated 1941, It has "REPVBLIQVE FRAINCAISE" on the front, with the picture of a guy wearing one of those old type headdresses that Caesar wore, on the back it says "LIBERTE EGALITE FRATERNITE" with "1 FRANC" in the center and a horn of plent on either side. I was told that this was made at a time when whatever metal they normally made francs from was unavailable, so they made it out of something different for three consecutive years. does anybody know anything about this and if so, how much it would be worth?? Thanks!
hello gclimer, welcome well, it's from France. It's 1 Franc, and it's from 1941. That issue was made of aluminum-bronze, and in that year 34 million were issued. Krause sets the value of this coin at 15 cents in Fine to 3.00 in Unc. If your coin was pulled from average circulation, it's probably worth somewhere between 15 to 50 cents, I would imagine. It was made in the 40s, which was war time, but they have issued the franc in aluminum bronze since 1920, prior to that they were using partial silver.
Right you are. In 1941 they made a type from aluminum-bronze and another type from flat out aluminum, which continued on (with the exception of some occupation types made in zinc in 43) through 59. The type referenced in the first post was the 1941 aluminum bronze variety. Neither is particularly rare - combined minting exceeded 95 million.
The 1941 coins are actually the first coins of German-occupied France.The first coins of Vichy France were issued in 1942. Aidan.
