Madagascar 5 Francs

This 5 Francs coin from French Madagascar was struck in aluminum to stretch scarce resources during World War II, a practical choice that kept colonial trade chugging along amid global shortages.

That aluminum planchet, light and unassuming, came from the Paris Mint, where they adapted designs from metropolitan France to suit overseas territories. The obverse typically bore a French republican symbol, like a radiate head, while the reverse might feature a simple denomination or a nod to the island's status—nothing flashy, just the facts.

Mintage figures for these years are spotty; records from the era often vanished in postwar confusion. As for myths about hidden treasures, I've heard enough—it's a straightforward colonial issue, not buried pirate gold.

Some collectors overlook it because of its commonality, but that's their loss.