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5 Centimes Marianne Epreuve de contrôle d'avers en plomb
| Issuer | Monnaie de Paris |
|---|---|
| Year | 1966 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | New franc (1960-2001) |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Left-facing bust of Marianne wearing a Phrygian cap with flowing ribbons and drapery, rendered in the classical republican style by Henri Lagriffoul. The legend REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE arcs around the upper periphery of the central die impression. The engraver's signature LAGRIFFOUL appears in small letters below the truncation. The obverse design is struck onto a thick, roughly circular lead planchet with a pronounced raised border surrounding the die area, characteristic of an avers control proof used to verify die engraving quality prior to final production. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE |
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| Additional information |
The "épreuve de contrôle" designation places this squarely outside normal numismatic categories — these lead strikes were internal workshop tools, produced at the Monnaie de Paris to verify die alignment and relief accuracy before committing to production runs in the final alloy. They were never intended for collectors or circulation, which makes their survival in any condition largely a matter of institutional record-keeping rather than deliberate preservation.
The 1966 Marianne 5 centimes belongs to the Pinay-Rueff monetary reform coinage, introduced when France redenominated at 100 old francs to 1 new franc. At 53 g, this control piece is dramatically heavier than any struck example — lead's density making it ideal for checking die impression depth.