Description:
French bronze 1 centime, 1878
Diameter 14mm
It is not entirely clear whether the female figure on the obverse, facing left, is Liberty or Marianne. Both are very common female symbols of the French Republic. The absence of the Phrygian, or liberty cap, suggests it is Liberty. She appears inside a ring of dots, around the outside of which is the inscription 'REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE'. The date is below between two stars. The reverse features the inscription '1 CENTIME' above three symbols. The first, 'A', is the mintmark for Paris. The second two are the Parisian Privy Marks of an Anchor and a Bee. The denomination and the mintmarks appear within a ring of dots. Around the outside is the moto of the French Republic 'LIBERTE EGALITE FRATERNITE', 'Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood'. This is divided by three stars.