France
Republic zinc Franc 1943 AU Details (Environmental Damage) PCGS, Atelier Carnaud (Algiers) mint, KM885b, Lec-43. Estimated Mintage: 17,000. By Graziani. Extremely rare and the only certified example of this type struck for use in Africa, seemingly free of any signs of rub or handling, with the noted "damage" likely referring to the small deposit on the R in REPVBLIQVE, and oxidized to a characteristic dark zinc color. For comparison, Baldwin's sold a raw piece for approximately $9841 in their 2014 Auction #87 (Lot 1106). We note that this coin, authorized by the French government during its period of exile in London, is one of only a small handful in existence today, and is so scarce, in fact, that some consider it to be the greatest French rarity since the Napoleonic period.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 2000-3000 USD