20 Centimes - Rainier III Silver Piedfort Essai

Piedforts from the Monnaie de Paris have been produced since at least the 16th century, originally as presentation pieces and official weight standards for assayers and treasury officials. By the postwar period they had become largely ceremonial — issued in limited numbers alongside regular essais to document approved designs before production coinage was struck. This example accompanied the introduction of Monaco's new centime series following the 1960 French monetary reform, which redefined the franc at 1/100 of its former value and forced dependent territories to issue entirely new denominations.

The double-thickness flan distinguishes it from the standard essai of the same type. Mintage for Monnaie de Paris piedforts of this period rarely exceeded a few dozen pieces.