French Pattern Coin 20 Centimes 1887 Ceres A (Paris)
Obverse: Head of Ceres, Fasces to left of it, and olive branch to the right of it; "REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE", (date) below; signed L.MERLEY. [engraver Louis Merley (1815-1883)].
Reverse: The face value "20 Centimes" at centre; "LIBERTE * LEGALITE * FRATERNITE", ESSAI below.
Composition: Nickel
French Coins: The Ceres Family
The head of Ceres with "Concord" head band. Designed by Eugene Andre Oudine (1810-1889) who worked for the Paris Mint.The Cérès, as the name suggests, displays the head of Ceres on its obverse, the Roman Goddess of agriculture, harvests and fertility and a symbol of the Republic. She is represented from her right profile, wearing an earring, a pearl necklace and a braided chignon in her hair attached with a ribbon and in which seeds, acorns and oak leaves are placed. This face is framed by fasces lictoriae featuring the hand of Justice on the left, behind the nape of the neck, and a laurel branch on the right, under the chin. A 6-sided star is above her head. The title is “Republique Française” (French Republic).
Pattern Essai 20 Centimes Ceres
Gold 5 Francs Ceres Gold 10 Francs Ceres Gold 20 Francs Ceres