50 Centimes - Morlon Essai lourd et étroit, Copper-nickel

Obverse

Draped bust of the Republic with short hair on the left, wearing a Phrygian cap adorned with a tricolor cockade (guilloche center, smooth circle, guilloche circle), under a composite wreath of wheat, oak and olive tree tied by a ribbon; under the ribbon MORLON.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
REPVBLIQVE　FRANÇAISE
MORLON

Translation: French Republic

Engraver: Pierre-Alexandre Morlon

Reverse

LIBERTE - EGALITE / FRATERNITE / ESSAI/ 50 / CENTIMES / 1948 in two lines above the vintage framed by the different, all between two symmetrically opposed horns of plenty.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
LIBERTE - EGALITE
FRATERNITE
ESSAI
50
CENTIMES
1948

Translation:
Freedom - Equality
Fraternity
Trial

Engraver: Pierre-Alexandre Morlon

Edge

Plain

Mint

Monnaie de Paris, Paris (and Pessac starting 1973), France (864-date)

Mark

Lucien Bazor, General coin engraver, Monnaie de Paris (1931-1958)

Comments

This test piece is so rare (R3) that it was thought to be unique in 2007, but others have since been discovered.
No one knows for sure what metal or alloys this piece is made of.

This is an automatic translation. The original text is:

Cet essai est tellement rare (R3) qu'on le croyait unique en 2007, on en a découvert d'autre depuis.
Personne n'est certains du métal ou des éventuels alliages composant cette pièce.

See also

• Cornucopia

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Date					VG	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC
Undetermined
1948												GEM 88.5 - heavy weight (4.5 g)
1948												GEM 88.6 - light weight (3.5 g)
1948												Intermediate weight (4.0 g)

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Numista Rarity index: 100

This index is based on the data of Numista members collections. It ranges from 0 to 100, 0 meaning a very common coin or banknote and 100 meaning a rare coin or banknote among Numista members.

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