Coin Pièce France 1 décime Bronze Louis XVIII 1815 BB Strasbourg

The décime of Louis XVIII struck in 1815 at the Strasbourg mint, identified by the mintmark BB, is a representative coin of the period of the monarchical Restoration in France. This issue takes place in a particularly significant historical context, marked by the return of Louis XVIII to the throne of France after the Hundred Days and the final defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo.

The coin is struck in bronze, a material characteristic of the divisional coinage of this era intended for everyday transactions. It has a diameter of 34 millimetres and a weight of 20 grams, physical characteristics that make it an imposingly sized coin for a low face value denomination. Its face value is one décime, or one tenth of a franc in the decimal monetary system established during the Revolution and maintained under the Restoration.

The obverse of this coin traditionally depicts the bust of Louis XVIII, King of France, accompanied by the standard inscriptions mentioning his title and name. The reverse indicates the value and the year of striking, in accordance with the monetary standards in force under the Restoration.

The mintage of this issue amounts to 1,266,920 specimens, a significant figure that reflects the considerable monetary needs of the period. The Strasbourg mint, one of the most active mints in France in the 19th century, thus contributed to the supply of divisional coinage across the national territory.

This coin represents a tangible testimony to French monetary production under the first Restoration, at a pivotal moment in the country's political history, and constitutes a relevant object of study for 19th-century numismatics.