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10 centimes pattern of Merley, 18 sides
| Issuer | Monnaie de Paris |
|---|---|
| Year | 1887 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 10 Centimes (0.10) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | The obverse features a right-facing laureate bust of Ceres personifying the Republic, executed in fine relief. The effigy is flanked by a fasces (lictor's bundle, symbol of Republican authority) to the left and an olive branch to the right, with a five-pointed star positioned above the bust. The engraver's signature L.MERLEY appears in the exergue beneath the truncation. The surrounding legend reads RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE with the date 1887 integrated into the design. |
|---|---|
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| Edge | Plain (18-sided) |
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| Additional information |
In the 1880s, the French monetary administration was actively exploring alternatives to bronze for small-denomination coinage, driven by concerns over weight and the rising cost of copper alloys. Merley's octadecagonal pattern was one of several competing proposals submitted for official evaluation — the 18-sided format was a deliberate engineering choice, intended to allow blind identification by touch while remaining machinable within existing press tolerances.
The design never advanced to adoption. France retained bronze for its centime coinage until the First World War era reshuffled material priorities entirely.