2 Francs - Louis II Essai

Monaco struck a small series of essais in 1943 under Prince Louis II while the principality navigated the competing pressures of Vichy France and Italian occupation. These trial pieces were produced in multiple metals — the gold version being the rarest of the set — and were never intended for circulation, functioning instead as official presentation strikes for approval and record purposes.

The Gadoury reference Fr#21a distinguishes this gold striking from the aluminum and other metal trials of the same type. Surviving examples are essentially confined to institutional collections and the occasional specialized auction.