20 Francs French Polynesia

What sets this 20 Francs coin apart is its use of aluminum-bronze, a durable alloy chosen to combat the corrosion from Tahiti's salty air and ocean spray.

That material decision reflected practical needs for coins circulating in the Pacific islands from 1965 to 1975. The obverse typically bore the profile of Marianne, France's symbolic figure, while the reverse featured local motifs like an outrigger canoe or tropical flora—elements that grounded it in Polynesian culture without overt exoticism. Mintage figures vary by year, but records from the Paris Mint are spotty; we know production tapered off as decimalization loomed.

Some collectors note the coin's lightweight feel, which might have made it less appealing for hoarding—much like how a beach souvenir often gets left behind in the sand.