The first French hole coins date from 1914, but several coins of this type already existed elsewhere in the world (in Belgium for example) and in the French colonies (in Indochina since 1896).
After a first test strike in nickel in 1914, the coin was actually produced for circulation in 1917 in cupronickel.
From 1922 to 1924, part of the production was carried out in Poissy and Vincennes and the coins thus produced bear the mintmark "Thunderbolt" instead of the mintmark "Cornucopia".
In 1938 the alloy was modified to nickel silver (replacing the nickel with a part of zinc) and lightened again.
Under the occupation, the type was temporarily preserved (with the republican motto) but with a devalued alloy. Three zinc-based alloys were tested and for each of them there is a variety: dots around the date and underlined Cmes, only underlined Cmes and free date. The variant with only the dots around the date is as of today (2024) unconvincing and does not seem to exist apart from concerns related to corner obstructions when typing.
These coins are still easily found in all states of conservation (including FDC) for all vintages.
After a first test strike in nickel in 1914, the coin was actually produced for circulation in 1917 in cupronickel.
From 1922 to 1924, part of the production was carried out in Poissy and Vincennes and the coins thus produced bear the mintmark "Thunderbolt" instead of the mintmark "Cornucopia".
In 1938 the alloy was modified to nickel silver (replacing the nickel with a part of zinc) and lightened again.
Under the occupation, the type was temporarily preserved (with the republican motto) but with a devalued alloy. Three zinc-based alloys were tested and for each of them there is a variety: dots around the date and underlined Cmes, only underlined Cmes and free date. The variant with only the dots around the date is as of today (2024) unconvincing and does not seem to exist apart from concerns related to corner obstructions when typing.
These coins are still easily found in all states of conservation (including FDC) for all vintages.
Main information :
Numbers (different coins and mintages) :
Sections :
Nickel
Obverse legend :
Reverse legend :
ESSAI
-
1914
Monnaie de Paris,
France
No mintmark
Cornucopia Régie des Monnaies
Torch Henri Auguste Patey
Monnaie de Paris,
France
No mintmark
Cornucopia Régie des Monnaies
Torch Henri Auguste Patey
Monnaie de Paris,
France
No mintmark
Cornucopia Régie des Monnaies
Torch Henri Auguste Patey
8.0
(set) 200
--
--
--
400.00
450.00
500.00
700.00
-
-
ESSAI
-
1914
Monnaie de Paris,
France
No mintmark
Cornucopia Régie des Monnaies
Torch Henri Auguste Patey
Monnaie de Paris,
France
No mintmark
Cornucopia Régie des Monnaies
Torch Henri Auguste Patey
Monnaie de Paris,
France
No mintmark
Cornucopia Régie des Monnaies
Torch Henri Auguste Patey
2.5
941 133
1.00
1.50
2.00
3.00
5.00
12.00
30.00
-
-
-
1915
Monnaie de Paris,
France
No mintmark
Cornucopia Régie des Monnaies
Torch Henri Auguste Patey
Monnaie de Paris,
France
No mintmark
Cornucopia Régie des Monnaies
Torch Henri Auguste Patey
Monnaie de Paris,
France
No mintmark
Cornucopia Régie des Monnaies
Torch Henri Auguste Patey
2.0
535 227
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
9.00
20.00
50.00
-
-
2
-
1916
Monnaie de Paris,
France
No mintmark
Cornucopia Régie des Monnaies
Torch Henri Auguste Patey
Monnaie de Paris,
France
No mintmark
Cornucopia Régie des Monnaies
Torch Henri Auguste Patey
Monnaie de Paris,
France
No mintmark
Cornucopia Régie des Monnaies
Torch Henri Auguste Patey
6.0
99 608
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
75.00
100.00
150.00
-
-
-
1917
Monnaie de Paris,
France
No mintmark
Cornucopia Régie des Monnaies
Torch Henri Auguste Patey
Monnaie de Paris,
France
No mintmark
Cornucopia Régie des Monnaies
Torch Henri Auguste Patey
Monnaie de Paris,
France
No mintmark
Cornucopia Régie des Monnaies
Torch Henri Auguste Patey
6.5
65 038
40.00
50.00
60.00
75.00
100.00
140.00
200.00
-
-
-
Total :
-
2.0
1 641 406
73.00
94.50
116.00
943.00
1 089
1 272
1 830
-
-
-
-
Quotes in 4 or 7 grades. There are indicatives and can be official or estimated, in your currency (by default : euro).
This list presents all mints used on this page and attached mintmarks.
Illustration
Description
No mintmark
Cornucopia
Name : Régie des Monnaies
Torch
Name : Henri Auguste Patey
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