1 Franc - Louis II Essai

Monaco's wartime coinage of 1943 presents a complicated picture: the principality was under Italian occupation until September of that year, then German occupation immediately after, making any official minting program a negotiated political act. Louis II had limited autonomy throughout, and essais from this period were produced in small quantities — primarily for archival and approval purposes rather than circulation. The KM#E9 designation confirms its trial status.

French essais of this era were typically struck at the Paris Mint under constrained wartime conditions, with silver availability itself subject to occupying authority approval.