France 6 Deniers

The 6 deniers coin's most striking feature was its role in France's inflationary spiral; by the 1700s, its silver content had dropped so low that it was barely worth the metal it was made from. This wasn't just poor planning—it mirrored the kingdom's economic troubles under Louis XIV and XV. Struck at mints like Paris or Lyon, these coins typically featured a king's bust on one side and a cross or fleurs-de-lis on the other.

We don't know exact mintage figures for most years; records from that era are spotty, often lost to fires or neglect. What we do know is that peasants used them for daily buys, like a loaf of bread. The design evolved over 150 years, adapting to new rulers and reforms.

If you're handling one, note the edge: sometimes lettered to thwart clipping, a common cheat. No masterpiece, but it's survived centuries of wear. Collectors ignore it at their peril—it's as ubiquitous as old receipts in a drawer.