20 Centimes France

What surprises most people is that the French 20 Centimes coin, introduced in 1897, was struck using an aluminum-bronze alloy that helped it withstand the rigors of daily commerce better than its predecessors.

This coin circulated widely as part of the Latin Monetary Union, rubbing elbows with similar denominations from Belgium and Switzerland. Its design, featuring a simple wreath and the Republic's motto, changed little over decades, even as France weathered two world wars. Mintage figures vary by year, but records show peaks in the millions during the 1920s to support postwar economies—though exact numbers for some periods were lost in archival mishaps.

The alloy's durability meant these coins turned up in pockets and purses for over a century, outlasting fancier siblings. Some call that practical; I call it the numismatist's equivalent of reliable socks.