Numismatic

1978 France Proof Gold Piefort 1 Centime PF-64 UCAM NGC

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In 1978, France produced an extraordinary numismatic rarity in the form of a gold piefort. This double-thick specimen contains 0.2218 troy ounces of fine gold with a purity of 0.920. Only 144 of these proof pieces were struck, making it a highly elusive artifact of twentieth-century French coining. The obverse of the coin features a left-facing bust of Liberty, a timeless symbol of the French Republic. On the reverse, the face value of 1 Centime sits directly above the 1978 date. A delicate sprig of grain is positioned beneath the date, while a laurel branch frames the left side of the design, creating a balanced and elegant composition. This piece has been certified as Proof-64 Ultra Cameo, a designation that highlights the sharp contrast between the frosted design elements and the deeply mirrored fields. It represents a fascinating moment in modern French minting, where a tiny everyday denomination was transformed into a heavy, precious metal masterpiece.