Tunisian Franc

The Tunisian franc's bilingual inscriptions—French on one side, Arabic on the other—highlighted the uneasy blend of colonial rule and local tradition.

These coins were struck in Paris from 1891 onward, using standard French minting techniques on silver and bronze planchets. Denominations ranged from 1 centime to 20 francs, with designs that included a crescent and star for Tunisia, diverging slightly from metropolitan French issues. Mintage figures vary by year, though exact numbers for many issues remain unclear due to incomplete colonial records.

Not every Tunisian franc tells a grand tale of empire; some were just pocket change for farmers in the medina. They circulated until 1958, when Tunisia gained independence and adopted the dinar.

Over the years, I've seen enthusiasts spin yarns about these coins warding off evil eyes, but that's nonsense—they're metal, not amulets.