Need help ID old coin, possibly French?

gargoyle62

Been a while since I've journeyed to the DARKSIDE, but I need the help of you fine peoples.
I have no means in which to post a pic, so I hope a description will do....

The coin I found is thinner than a dime, slightly larger than a quarter, pretty light weight, no
reeding and gold in color. The lettering goes kinda like this:

obverse

NAPOLEON III EMPEREUR

profile of man with funky little goatee
(there's lettering under the bust but I can't read it)

1855


reverse

EMPIRE ???????

picture of an eagle?
W

CENTIME

This is what I can make out 'cause the coin is kinda worn. If anyone has any info
they can share, I'd appreciate it. Thanks alot.

satootoko

Any chance that reverse legend is "CINQ CENTIMES"?

If so, you appear to have a bronze KM#777.7, minted at Lille, with a small Arabian Nights-style lamp as the mintmark. Mintage is shown as 17,473,000, and value given by Krause in the 3rd Ed. 19th Century volume is $2 F, $5 VF, $15 XF and $30 Unc..

gargoyle62

satootoko - thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, the coin is worn, and there is also a dark spot
right in front of the "centimes". I think I can make out an "nq", but all I have is a cheapo
magnifying glass, so I may be imagining things.
Once again, thanks for the help.

spoon

Yep. Sounds like a French 5c. Compare it against a US half $. If it's that size then it's a 10c. If about nickel-size, 2c. But I think Roy got it, your size that's a 5c.

Very cool coin even in "respectably worn" condition

edit == Oh, almost forgot what my current icon is! That's a 2c from the same series in UNC (not to scale, of course!).