France 20 Centimes Appraisal

French Republic Coin (likely 10 or 20 Centimes Semeuse Type)

The item is a circular metal coin, appearing to be made of a bronze or brass alloy judging by its golden-brown color and the slight dullness typical of circulated base metal coinage. The obverse side, which is visible, features a left-facing bas-relief bust of a female figure, likely an allegorical representation of the French Republic (Marianne). Her hair is intricately styled with waves and curls flowing down her neck. Along the rim of the coin, the inscription "REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE" (French Republic) is clearly legible, curved to follow the coin's circular shape. Below the bust, partially visible, is a signature or engraver's mark, though it is difficult to fully decipher from the image, but appears to be 'O. Roty' or similar which indicates Oscar Roty, a famous French engraver. The surface exhibits a moderate degree of wear consistent with circulation, with some loss of fine detail on the high points of the relief. There are no obvious signs of severe damage such as deep scratches or dents, but a general light patina and some minor surface abrasions are present. The coin's edge, partially visible, appears reeded or plain, though this cannot be confirmed entirely. Given the 'REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE' inscription and the artistic style of the bust, this coin is unequivocally French and likely dates from the late 19th to mid-20th century, a period when such allegorical figures were common on French coinage. The quality of the engraving is high, characteristic of official government minting. The coin is placed on a dark, textured surface that resembles a computer keyboard, indicating its approximate size, likely similar to a modern Euro cent or a US quarter dollar.