ObverseImage: Wikimedia Commons · Numizmat 675 · CC BY-SA 3.0
2 Francs - Fourth Republic
France
1945–1959
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Specifications
| Country | France |
| Years Minted | 1945–1959 |
| Composition | Aluminum |
| Weight | 2 g |
| Diameter | 27 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Reeded |
Design
Obverse
Features the head of Marianne facing left, with the inscription 'RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE' and 'LIBERTÉ ÉGALITÉ FRATERNITÉ'.
Reverse
Displays the denomination '2 FRANCS' and the year, often with a design element like a wheat ear or branch.
History & Notable Facts
This 2 Francs coin was struck from aluminum salvaged from wartime scrap, a practical necessity in a France still reeling from occupation.
That meant it weighed next to nothing compared to pre-war coins. Production ran from 1945 to 1959 at the Paris Mint, with designs by Lucien Bazor featuring a simple Gallic rooster on the reverse.
We don't know exact mintage figures for every year; records from that era are spotty. What is clear is that these coins circulated widely, helping stabilize an economy in flux.
Aluminum's lightness made it easy to carry, though it didn't hold up well to wear.
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