Coin France 5 Francs Laureate head - 1938

The 5 Francs Lavrillier is a French coin issued in 1938, designed by the chief engraver of the Paris Mint, André Lavrillier, an artist renowned for the quality and finesse of his engravings. This coin belongs to a pivotal period in French economic and political history, marked by the tensions preceding the Second World War.

Struck in bronze, this coin features a metallic composition characteristic of issues from this era, offering a distinctive copper hue. It has a weight of 12 grams and a diameter of 31 millimetres, giving it a notable feel and a strong presence.

The obverse of the coin depicts the head of Mercury, god of commerce and travellers in Roman mythology, wearing his winged petasus. This motif, characteristic of Lavrillier's work, reflects the influence of the artistic movements of the interwar period. The face value of 5 francs and the year of issue appear on the reverse, accompanied by the usual republican elements, including the inscription République Française.

With a mintage of 10,144,400 pieces, this 1938 issue represents a significant production, intended to meet the needs of everyday monetary circulation in France at the time. This relatively large mintage means that the coin is today accessible to collectors, although examples in superior condition remain scarcer.

The 1938 5 Francs Lavrillier stands as a tangible testament to French monetary production of the interwar years, reflecting both the artistic choices and the economic constraints of this particular period in French history.