20 Centimes Third Republic

In 1871, the 20 Centimes coin was minted in silver despite being worth less than a gram of the metal, a practical choice that kept it in daily pockets rather than vaults.

That silver content meant it wore down quickly from constant handling in markets and shops across France. The obverse showed Marianne's head, a straightforward republican symbol without the flourishes of earlier monarchs, while the reverse bore the denomination and year.

Production occurred at the Paris mint, with variations in die types over the decades, though exact numbers for some years remain unclear due to incomplete records from the era.

It's a coin that circulated through wars and reforms, outlasting many of its users.