FRANCE - FRANCE Third Republic (1870-1940). 50 centimes Cérès, Flan bruni (PROOF) 1889, A, Paris. FRENCH REPUBLIC. Head of the Republic on the left in Cérès, under a star, below signature E. A. OUDINÉ. F. Rv. FREEDOM. EQUALITY. FRATERNITY. Within a wreath of two branches: 50 CENT. (date); below (different) (workshop) (different). G.419a - F.189; Silver - 18 mm - 6 h Top Pop (4): this is the finest graded example! PCGS PR65 (55952567). Minted only on burnished blank (PROOF) of only 100 examples, minted on the occasion of the Universal Exhibition in Paris! With a slight matt patina, a few black spots on the right-hand side and finger marks on the reverse. Almost corner flower. For the 1889 strikes, the archives are missing and the only information available is given by E. Dewamin (vol. 2, p.327 and note 4). The Monnaie de Paris's participation in the 1889 exhibition enabled it to strike monetiform tokens by A. Borrel in front of the public, using a steam balance. Another coin press was on display, but the 1889 coins were certainly struck at the Monnaie de Paris and not at the Exhibition.