Algerian 5 Francs

The most intriguing fact about the Algerian 5 Franc coin is that it was struck in Paris, thousands of miles from Algeria, using the same minting equipment as French coins, which underscores the colony's economic tether to the mainland.

These pieces, issued from 1924 to 1959, were typically made from aluminum-bronze starting in the 1940s, a shift driven by wartime metal shortages. Earlier versions used nickel. The obverse featured the French Republic's symbol—a woman's head with a Phrygian cap—while the reverse showed a wreath and the denomination.

Design variations were minimal over the years, reflecting France's standardized approach to colonial currency. Mintage figures for specific years are spotty; records from the 1940s, for instance, were likely lost amid the chaos of World War II.

As for myths, I've heard tales of these coins being smuggled across the Mediterranean. They weren't.