Obverse. Photo © Stephan Album Rare Coins
  • 2½ Piastres 1940, KM# E10, Lebanon
  • 2½ Piastres 1940, KM# E10, Lebanon
Description

An essai is a type of trial strike, typically a non-circulating, non-legal tender coin with a slightly higher mintage than the usual pattern coin.

Obverse

Wreath made of oak and olive tree branches surrounded by the country name in French and Arabic.

الجمهورية اللبنانية
·REPUBLIQUE·LIBANAISE·

Reverse

Mirrored two lion heads between a wreath of 4 olive branches. Denomination in Arabic (on top) and French (on bottom), year surrounded by the mint marks below. Essai (a coin prototype) below, state name above, date below.

Mintmark of the Paris Mint (left): Cornucopia
Engraver general's privy mark (right): Wing (1931-1957, Lucien Bazor)

غرشان و نصف
١/٢ ٢
2 PIASTRES 1/2
1940•١٩٤٠
ESSAI

Edge

2½ Piastres

French Mandate, Essai
KM# E10 Lec# 21
Characteristics
Material Aluminium Bronze
Weight 3.08 g
Diameter 21 mm
Thickness -
Shape round with a center hole
Alignment Coin
Mint
Paris Mint (A)

Related coins

French Mandate

Aluminium Bronze, 3.08 g, ⌀ 21 mm
WW2 Emergency Coinage

Aluminium, 1.3 g, ⌀ 17.3 mm