5 Centimes

Historical Context: This 1922 5 Centimes from the Department of Eure-et-Loir exemplifies French local emergency coinage during the Third Republic. Post-World War I, national mints faced material shortages and economic instability, causing a severe lack of small change. Numerous departments and chambers of commerce thus issued their own fiduciary currency. These departmental issues were crucial for daily commerce, highlighting a period of economic flux and pragmatic local solutions to national currency deficits.

Artistry: Engraver attribution for these local issues is typically unrecorded, with designs prioritizing clarity and functionality. Common motifs include the issuing authority's name, denomination, and sometimes a simple civic or regional emblem. Struck in aluminium, the aesthetic leans towards a clear, legible style, often reflecting Art Deco simplicity or a straightforward classical approach. This utilitarian design is characteristic of interwar French coinage intended for essential mass circulation.

Technical/Grading: Struck in aluminium, this 0.92-gram, 19-millimeter coin's high points for grading are the raised lettering of the denomination, issuer, and any central device. Due to aluminium's softness and the often less precise striking conditions of local issues, these coins frequently exhibit minor planchet imperfections or shallow strikes. Wear typically first manifests on the highest relief elements, leading to a loss of definition in legends and central motifs, impacting eye appeal.