ObverseImage: Wikimedia Commons · Thevenon, editeur · CC0
2 Francs
France
1948–1970
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Specifications
| Country | France |
| Years Minted | 1948–1970 |
| Composition | Aluminum |
| Weight | 2 g |
| Diameter | 27 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
Design
Obverse
Features the head of Marianne facing left with the inscription 'République Française'.
Reverse
Displays the denomination '2 Francs' and the territory name 'Côte Française des Somalis' or similar depending on the year.
History & Notable Facts
The most intriguing thing about this 2 Francs coin from French Somaliland is that it was struck from aluminum, a material choice that kept it lightweight and resistant to the territory's harsh, salty air—practical for a place where coins needed to endure more than just pocket change.
Minted at the Paris Mint between 1948 and 1970, these pieces featured a simple design: the head of Marianne on one side, representing the French Republic, and the denomination on the reverse. Variations in the date and minor details exist, but records on exact mintages are spotty; colonial archives weren't always meticulous. We know it circulated alongside local currencies, easing transactions in a region transitioning from nomadic trade to modern economy.
One dry observation: It's ironic that such a coin, born in a European forge, spent its life in the dust of the Horn of Africa.
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