1855-D France 10 Centimes - XF+ - Napoleon III Bare Head - DIX Centimes 1855D (Lyon Mint)

Secure an exceptional artifact from the height of the French Second Empire with this sharply detailed 1855-D France 10 Centimes coin. Struck at the historic Lyon Mint (denoted by the 'D' mint mark), this massive bronze coin represents the industrial growth, imperial global expansion, and military ambitions of France under Emperor Napoleon III.

Features completely smooth, uncleaned fields with a uniform, glossy dark brown patina. No heavy pitting or environmental damage, highlighting an exceptionally clean strike for a mid-19th-century bronze workhorse.

Graded as a tight Choice Extremely Fine (XF+), this raw specimen showcases details vastly superior to the heavily worn examples typical of this series. The obverse features a stark, bare-headed portrait of Napoleon III designed by Chief Engraver Jacques-Jean Barre, with individual hair strands and facial lines remaining remarkably crisp. The reverse displays the magnificent, outstretched Imperial French Eagle perched upon a thunderbolt. 

Because these large-format bronze pieces served as the foundational copper currency across France and its global territories, they usually suffered from severe pocket wear, surface gouges, or harsh corrosion. This specimen has bypassed that fate, retaining tight, clean denticles, a perfectly smooth rim, and an even, chocolate-brown mahogany patina. Vetted by a dealer with extensive grading experience, this historic branch-mint coin is a premium addition to any European or 19th-century military-era collection.

• Year: 1855
• Country: France (Second Empire)
• Denomination: 10 Centimes (0.10 FRF)
• Mint Mark: D (Lyon Mint, supervised by Mint Master Jean Moine)
• Grade: Extremely Fine Plus (XF+)
• Designers: Jacques-Jean Barre (Obverse) & Albert-Désiré Barre (Reverse)
• Composition: Bronze (95% Copper, 4% Tin, 1% Zinc)
• Weight: 10.00 grams
• Diameter: 30.0 mm
• Edge: Plain