France…often styled by Americans as “Our oldest friend,” yet also occasionally known as “Our oldest enemy.” The relationship between the two countries has been marked by some stratospheric highs—and some abysmal lows—but a very definite “up” year was 1886, when this 2-centime was coined in Paris.
This coin could well have been available to purchase a French newspaper in late October or early November of 1886, announcing to the folks back home that their great gift to the United States of America, the giant copper statue known as “Liberty Enlightening the World” (now usually called the “Statue of Liberty”), had finally been dedicated in the harbor of New York City.
It’s fun to imagine that—but for the small accidents of history—the metal used to make this little French coin might have ended up instead being used in Bartholdi’s statue.
v.
I looked in my collection and see I haven´t this type. Only an older and younger type and they are the only ones of 2 Centimes pieces I own. A little bit more pieces of 1 Centime lie in my collection, but not very many.