Coin Value: France 1, 2, 5, and 10 Centimes 1870 to 1898

France 1, 2, 5, and 10 Centimes 1870 to 1898

I like these old French coins. The designs are full and bold. The one in the picture is a 10 centimes piece which carries some value in better grades. Most of these coins that you see in coin dealer's windows are worn to a frazzle. In this case, value is a few US dollars, less than $5 usually.

Four denominations, the 1, 2, 5, and 10 centimes, were minted in the late 1800s. They all have essentially the same pattern, with the woman on the front and the wreath on the back.

The coin in the picture comes from RicksCoinStop.com. It is in much better shape than most. Rick is selling the coin for $10, and that's a good price.

The listings below give approximate catalog values.

1 CENTIME
worn: $1 US dollar approximate catalog value
average circulated: $5
well preserved: $12
fully uncirculated: $20
1 centimes dated 1872K catalog for $10 in average circulated condition
1 centimes dated 1878K catalog for $20 in average circulated condition
1 centimes dated 1882A through to 1890A catalog for $10 in average circulated
1 centimes dated 1893A catalog for $9 in average circulated

2 CENTIMES
worn: $2 US dollar approximate catalog value
average circulated: $6
well preserved: $15
fully uncirculated: $25
2 centimes dated 1893A catalog for $15 in average circulated condition
2 centimes dated 1894A catalog for $20 in average circulated condition

5 CENTIMES
worn: $2 US dollar approximate catalog value
average circulated: $6
well preserved: $15
fully uncirculated: $35
5 centimes dated 1877A, 1878A and 1879A (anchor with bar) catalog for $35 in average circulated condition
5 centimes dated 1896A with a torch (not a fasces) catalog for $85 in average circulated condition
5 centimes dated 1896A with a fasces as well as 1897A are common, divide the above values by 2.

10 CENTIMES
worn: $3 US dollar approximate catalog value
average circulated: $8
well preserved: $25
fully uncirculated: $50
10 centimes dated 1875A catalog for $65 in average circulated condition
10 centimes dated 1876A, 1877A and 1878A catalog for $30 in average circulated condition
10 centimes dated 1871K and 1878K are rare and catalog for over $100 in average circulated condition

All the values on this page are catalog values, which are inflated values. Use our Terminology page to convert catalog value to actual buy and sell values.

Coin: 1074 , Genre: Colonizers and Colonies
Requested by: , Sat, 22-Aug-2009 01:12:30 GMT
Answered by: Paul, Sun, 28-Apr-2013 18:26:21 GMT
Last review by CoinQuest: Fri, 17-Apr-2015 23:49:37 GMT
Requester description: 1890 On the front there is a woman with a tiarra on in the center around the edge it says 'REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE' On the back there is a reef like circular plant and in the middle t says 10 centimes with three words around it that say 'EGALITE', 'FRATERNITE',and 'LIBERTE'

Tags: france 1 2 5 10 centimes centime gaul francaises francais french rf francaise francie franciaise franciase francai fran fracaise cmes woman tiarra crown center offcenter republique republic reef wreath circular circle plant three egalite fraternite liberte liberty femal women lady female feminine fem womans females womens ladys princess ladies crowned tiara crowns crowning tiera off offset certer centre centers centered repub repbulique republik republ republican republicas republicia reipvblicae republiove republiek repvbliqve republica repvbblica republika rebublique repvblica republicans repvblique wreathed rief reif wreathe wreat garland wreth wreah wreaths circled encircle circlet ring circles loops circal encircled circuit ringed circumscibed incircled circel circumference encircles encircling rings circling loop circumscribed planting vegetation plants fraternity fratenite fraternit liberate libertas libertad libertao liberta libertate liberdad libertatis ribbon dot bead pearl star starburst beaded period dotted beading beads point periods dots points pearls starrs stars burst