France 5 Cents 1926 / 1927

bobo13- These are really neat and inexpensive coins, but unfortunately they are really hard to grade due to the design features and the fact that they often had weak strikes. I would say that they are both around AU since I see some luster and well-defined features, but the weak details of the design elements make me quite hesitant to claim that they are Unc.

I was thinking EF on the '27, but as Archraz said, with the weak strike and the attributes of the coin it is really hard to tell. I could very well be AU. They are pretty though

Judging strictly from the highest point on the coins the eye of the bird both coiins seem to be very similar in grade.

low MS due to the weak strike characteristics of the series they will not grade in the higher MS numbers but both appear to me to be MS-61/62 coins.

I'm gathering that by 'eye of the bird', Metalman, you mean the cockade in the hat on the obverse! (That hat being the same Phrygian bonnet worn by Lady Liberty in so many French coins since the Revolution, and also in evidence on a number of coin series from other countries.)

That spot, the round cockade, is indeed the key to grading these 5, 10 and 25 centime series from the interwar period. The circle and dot of the cockade should be strong and distinct in order to get XF or higher. In AU and MS grades, you need to look at the leaves below the central hole and above the fruit. To break into those high grades, these leaves have to clearly show the veins splitting them down the middle. These details are the first to go to wear.

Going by the photos, I could see this coin making either XF+ or AU-. To be sure of an MS grade on this one, I'd like more evidence of a strong cockade, of better vein details; I see some spotting and some tracks on the "R" and the "F".