WWII coins:
The coin itself
- France 1939 (KM# 867.b) 25 CENTIMES – Nickel-Bronze (4.16gr) ; mintage - 42,964,000 ; My valuation – 1.50EUR
Reverse: Obverse:
(you may click on the coins to enlarge the image)
A bit of history
A series of interwar crises led to a difficult political situation in Europe. And a post economical depression period in France.
It is a mixed year for France, with many events such as the beginning of the war, last public guillotining and the French government; along with the British one recognised Franco’s government in Spain.
It is the rise and the fall of the so-called third republic. One fall is interpreted by historians as a broad cultural and political result, pointing to failures, internal dissension, and a sense of malaise that ran through all French society at the time.
The republic was consigned as being unloved and unwanted by its people. Although difficult to judge today, this is what history books point us at.
Economically wise, France was trading a lot with its colonies, with one-third of the export going to them in 1939.
My thoughts
It’s interesting to see the huge mix in depressive and cultural changes that took place in France in that period.
For example, the rise in the circulation of mass media (newspapers) and the rise in advertising. All mixed with the post depression economical syndrome. So, can we say that economical depression leads to herd syndrome?
Coming back to the coin, it’s obvious that this one has seen many hands, and has been printed for mass adoption. Just check out the mintage. The numismatic market is still flooded out with those coins, hence the price is cheap.
Unemployment was high, and strikes were common by workers at that period, which leads me to think that (together with the other events) there were probably food shortages. Hence such a common coin was widely used.
A photo of the last public execution in France in 1939
All pictures of coins are from my own collection
Historical Sources - 1