96 Livres - Les Compagnies d'Afrique Quadruple de France; type 1

Les Compagnies d'Afrique were French trading concessions operating along the North African coast — primarily out of Bône and La Calle — holding monopoly rights over coral fishing and regional commerce. By the 1780s, the companies were chronically short of small change acceptable to local traders, and these tin emergency pieces were struck to fill that gap rather than from any metropolitan authorization. The 96 Livres denomination reflects the local accounting system in use, not standard French metropolitan values.

Tin was chosen for its availability, not its prestige. These pieces circulated in a narrow commercial corridor and rarely traveled far.