Description

The Colony of Madagascar and Dependencies (French: Colonie de Madagascar et dépendances) was a French colony off the coast of Southeast Africa between 1897 and 1958.

Engraver: Coert Laurens Steynberg

Obverse

Depicts a rooster and the initials "RF" for the French Republic in a coat of arms on the left, with the country's name below.

The Latin word "gallus" means both "rooster" and "inhabitant of Gaul." In the Middle Ages, the Gallic Rooster was a common religious symbol representing hope and faith. During the Renaissance, it began to be linked with the emerging French nation, and by the Revolution, the rooster had become a symbol of national identity. It appeared on the "écu" coin, adorned with a Phrygian cap, and on the seal of the Premier Consul. The allegorical figure Fraternity often carried a staff topped with a rooster. In the Third Republic, the Elysée Palace’s wrought-iron gates featured the "Rooster Gate," still visible today, and the 1899 twenty-franc gold piece also depicted a rooster. Though not an official emblem of the Republic, the rooster represents a certain idea of France and remains a prominent symbol, especially in sports, capturing the spirit of the nation.

RF
MADAGASCAR

Reverse

Depicts the Cross of Lorraine dividing the coin's value, with France's national motto separating the motto of the Legion of Honour above, and the issue date below.

The Cross of Lorraine, a heraldic symbol with a vertical line intersected by two horizontal bars, has evolved over time to include several variations. The upper bar is usually shorter than the lower, though sometimes they are equal in length. This cross, known for its association with the region of Lorraine, became a powerful emblem for Free France during World War II and symbolizes liberation and Gaullism.

"Honneur et Patrie" (meaning "honour and fatherland") is the motto of the Legion of Honour, inscribed on military flags under the First French Empire and later adopted by the French Navy in 1830.

"Liberté, égalité, fraternité" (meaning "liberty, equality, fraternity") is France's national motto. Rooted in the French Revolution, it only became institutionalized under the Third Republic at the end of the 19th century, with ongoing debates about the order and compatibility of these ideals.

HONNEUR LIBERTE·EGALITE PATRIE
·FRATERNITE·
S.A.
50 Cmes
C.L.S
1943

Edge

50 Centimes

French Colony
KM# 1
Characteristics
Material Bronze
Weight 2.8 g
Diameter 20.2 mm
Thickness 1.38 mm
Shape round
Alignment Coin
Mint
Pretoria Mint, South Africa (SA)

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