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[Guest Lizzie]

Help! Just inherited a purse of old coins from countries all over the world. Where do I start? Is there a decent website that I can check these off on? One is a coin with Napoleon III empereur 1855 his head with a goatie beard. <_< On the reverse there is an eagle. Any thoughts on this one? Thanks Lizzie.

[Unknown 0]

You are in the right web site, but I am not the right person, as I am a complete ignorant, as you are, in the matter... someone will come along and help you, but I think they will need more information.

What is your intention? Keep the coins or sell them? If you want to sell them, let me know, the ones I do not have that are not too expensive, I'll want them.

[kuhli 0]

One  is a coin with Napoleon III empereur 1855 his head with a goatie beard. <_<  On the reverse there is an eagle. Any thoughts on this one? Thanks Lizzie.

From France, during the reign of Napoleon III. On the reverse, below the eagle along the outer rim will be the denomination: 1 (UN CENTIME), 2 (DEUX CENTIMES), 5 (CINQ CENTIMES), or 10 (DIX CENTIMES). Above the denomination, just below the eagle, will be the mintmark: A (Paris), B (Rouen), BB *overlapping each other* (Strasbourg), D (Lyon), K (Bordeaux), MA *A on top of M* (Marseilles), or W (Lille). Besides all this, there is also differing Engravers' privy marks for 1855, on the obverse, just below the beard along the outer rim, should be either a dog head or an anchor.

This particular design was issued from 1852-1857. With that many dates and mintmarks, the price ranges dramatically from the most common pieces worth US$1.00 up to less common dates worth US$25.00 and more.