10 francs Conquête de l'Espace Piéfort cupro-nickel

Piéforts — struck at double the standard planchet thickness — have been a Monnaie de Paris specialty since at least the medieval period, produced almost exclusively for collectors and presentation purposes. This 1983 issue commemorates France's space program at a moment when the country was pushing hard on its Ariane rocket series: Ariane 1 had achieved its first successful commercial launch in 1982, and national pride in independent launch capability was running high.

The cupro-aluminium-nickel alloy used here was introduced for the circulating 10-franc denomination that same year, replacing the earlier nickel composition.