5 Centimes

Historical Context: This 5 Centimes coin, issued by the Region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in 1918, encapsulates the profound economic and logistical challenges faced by France during the final year of the First World War. As the central government grappled with immense wartime expenditures, local authorities often took initiatives to maintain commerce. The issuance of a zinc coinage, a departure from traditional bronze or copper, underscores severe metal shortages and the necessity for pragmatic, emergency currency solutions to facilitate daily transactions in a war-torn nation.

Artistry: Specific engraver attribution for this regional issue is generally unrecorded, with the design likely adhering to a utilitarian aesthetic prevalent in wartime emergency coinage. The artistic style prioritizes clarity and legibility over elaborate ornamentation, focusing on the essential elements of denomination, issuer, and date. Designs from this period often reflected a blend of late 19th-century realism with burgeoning modernist simplicity, aiming for immediate recognition and functionality in a stressed economy.

Technical/Grading: Struck in zinc, a metal notoriously difficult to achieve a crisp, uniform strike, examples of this 5 Centimes coin frequently exhibit inherent production weaknesses. High-points susceptible to early wear and strike flatness would typically include the raised lettering of the denomination, the issuer's name, and any central motif. Collectors should anticipate varying degrees of planchet quality, often displaying laminations, pitting, or surface granularity inherent to wartime zinc compositions. Preservation of original surface luster is rare due to zinc's reactive nature, making well-struck, corrosion-free specimens particularly desirable.