25 Centimes Second Empire
France
1853–1870
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$0.13
Based on Copper spot price ($6.07/oz) · 95.0% purity · 10g
Updated 10:08 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | France |
| Years Minted | 1853–1870 |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Weight | 10 g |
| Diameter | 29 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
Design
Obverse
Features the head of Napoleon III facing right, with his name and title around the edge.
Reverse
Displays the denomination '25 CENTIMES' within an oak and laurel wreath, with the year at the bottom.
History & Notable Facts
The 25 centimes coin of France's Second Empire featured a portrait of Napoleon III that was unusually realistic for its time, showing the emperor with a laureate head rather than the idealized gods of earlier French coinage.
This bronze piece, minted from 1853 to 1870, was part of a broader effort to standardize currency under the new regime. On the obverse, engraver Eugene-Andre Oudiné captured Napoleon III's features with a level of detail that made the coin feel almost documentary. The reverse bore the denomination encircled by a wreath, simple and functional. Mintage figures vary by year, but records from the Paris Mint are spotty after a fire in 1871, so exact numbers remain unclear.
Not all Second Empire coins were bronze; this one was chosen for its durability in everyday use. That said, its composition sometimes led to wear that blurred the emperor's face quicker than you'd expect—perhaps a subtle commentary on the fleeting nature of power.
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