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France 10 centimes - Napoleon III 1855-K horizontal grapevine leaf

France · 1855 · 10 centimes
Circulating coinUncommon
€2.00estimate
N320 KM771
RAReference number RARA-5QGRJ
Circulating coin

Series of 10 centimes of Napoleon III with bare head (1852-1857)

The coin's story

This bronze 10 centimes coin was part of the great recoinage of small change carried out under Napoleon III. The regime melted down and restruck the old copper in circulation, some of which dated from before the Revolution, and reopened several regional mints for this purpose. The coins bear the bare head of the Emperor, engraved by Jacques-Jean Barre, and an imperial eagle. The letter K denotes the Bordeaux Mint. For 1855, Numista distinguishes several privy mark varieties at Bordeaux, including the vine-leaf one recorded for this coin, without a separate mintage. The coin ceased to be legal tender on 31 October 1934.

    ObverseNapoleon III, Bare Head

    NAPOLEON III EMPEREURBARRE1855
    Design
    The bare head of Emperor Napoleon III to the left.
    Legend
    NAPOLEON III EMPEREUR (Napoleon III, Emperor).
    Date
    1855.
    Signature
    BARRE.

    JBEngraved by Jacques-Jean Barre

    ReverseThe Imperial Eagle

    EMPIRE FRANÇAISKDIX CENTIMES
    Design
    The imperial eagle with wings spread, the mint letter below.
    Legend
    EMPIRE FRANÇAIS (French Empire).
    Denomination
    DIX CENTIMES (ten centimes).
    Mark
    K, the Bordeaux Mint.

    JBEngraved by Jacques-Jean Barre

    Specifications

    • Denomination10 centimes
    • Year1855
    • MintAtelier de Bordeaux (K)
    • MaterialBronze (copper 950‰, tin 40‰ and zinc 10‰)
    • ShapeRound
    • Diameter30.2 mm
    • Thickness1.5 mm
    • Weight10 g
    • EdgeThe edge is plain
    • ScriptsLatin

    Actual size

    10 centimes 30.2 mm 2 € 25.75 mm 1 € 23.25 mm

    Actual size compared with the 2 € and 1 € coins. Thickness: 1.5 mm.

    Composition

    Copper95 % Tin4 % Zinc1 %

    Reference catalogues

    N320Numista KM771Krause (Standard Catalog of World Coins)

    Same country, same period at the scale of real diameters

    2 centimes1855 · 20 mm 5 centimes1855 · 25 mm 10 centimes1855 · 30.2 mm

    By the same engraver: Jacques-Jean Barre 7 coins

    1855France 5 centimes - Napoleon III 1855-B 1855France 2 centimes Napoléon III 1855 A 1862France 1 centime Napoléon III 1862 petit B 1937Switzerland 1 rappen 1937 B 1938Switzerland 2 rappen 1938 B 1942Switzerland 1 rappen 1942 B

    France in the collection All 82 coins →

    18481992

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