5 Centimes Marianne Epreuve de contrôle d'avers en plomb

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.