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10 Francs Independence, Piedfort Essai
| Issuer | Mali (1960-date) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1960 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 10 Francs (10 MLF) |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | The National Coat of Arms of Mali occupies the central field, depicting a stylized fortress gateway above two crossed bows with arrows and a rising sun, surmounted by a soaring vulture in flight within a circular cartouche. The denomination '10 FR.' appears prominently in the lower central field, with the word 'ESSAI' incuse below it. The upper legend reads 'REPUBLIQUE DU MALI' flanked by six-pointed stars, while the lower legend carries the national motto 'UN PEUPLE·UN BUT·UNE FOI' arcing along the lower rim. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | ⋆ REPUBLIQUE DU MALI ⋆ 10 FR. UN PEUPLE•UN BUT•UNE FOI ESSAI (Translation: Republic of Mali One People, One Goal, One Faith) |
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| Additional information |
Mali declared independence from France on September 22, 1960, and these piedfort essais were struck almost immediately as part of the formal coinage authorization process — a French minting convention in which double-thickness trial pieces were produced for official approval before circulation strikes commenced. The Paris Mint handled production, as was standard practice for Francophone African nations whose own minting infrastructure didn't yet exist.
Piedforts of this issue are genuinely rare. Approval strikes of this type were distributed in tiny quantities among government officials and monetary authorities, not the numismatic trade.