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Description
This 20 centime silver coin was issued in 1867 under the reign of Napoleon III, as part of the French monetary system of the Second Empire. It belongs to the series known as the laureate head, corresponding to the second type of portrait adopted for Napoleon III coinage, characterised by a depiction of the emperor crowned with laurels.
On the obverse, the profile of Napoleon III faces left, his head encircled by a laurel wreath, accompanied by the legend « NAPOLÉON III EMPEREUR ». This portrait, engraved with precision, reflects the academic style typical of official coin issues of this period.
On the reverse, the face value « 20 CENTIMES » is inscribed at the centre, framed by a wreath composed of olive and oak branches, traditional symbols of French numismatics. The inscription « EMPIRE FRANÇAIS » also appears on this side, accompanied by the year of issue.
This coin was struck at the Paris Mint, identifiable by the letter « A » present on the coin, which is the official mint mark of the Monnaie de Paris. The metal composition is 835 thousandths silver, corresponding to a standardised alloy commonly used for monetary subdivisions of this era.
The coin has a weight of 1 gram and a diameter of 15 millimetres, making it one of the smallest silver denominations in the imperial monetary system. These reduced dimensions, combined with the fineness of the engraving, bear witness to the technical expertise of the engravers and coiners of the Monnaie de Paris during the 19th century.
