Coin France 10 Centimes Marianne - 1997 - Proof

Discreet, light, and long forgotten at the bottom of drawers, the 1997 Marianne 10 centimes coin belongs to an important chapter in French monetary history: the final years of the franc before the transition to the euro.

Issued under the Fifth Republic, this 10 centimes de franc coin follows a monetary design launched in 1962, following the monetary reform initiated by General de Gaulle and Antoine Pinay with the introduction of the "new franc". Its design remained unchanged until 2001, spanning nearly forty years of daily circulation.

The obverse features an elegant Marianne wearing the Phrygian cap, the quintessential republican symbol. The work is signed by sculptor Henri Lagriffoul, whose name appears discreetly under the portrait.

The reverse, signed by Adrien Dieudonné, presents the face value surrounded by an ear of wheat, an olive branch, and the republican motto:

"Liberté ? Égalité ? Fraternité"

A sober, functional design, typical of French circulation coins from the second half of the 20th century.