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Centime

A centime (French: [sɑ̃tim]) is a fractional monetary unit equal to one hundredth of a basic currency, such as the franc, dinar, or dirham, used in several countries with historical ties to French colonial or linguistic influence. The term derives from the Latin centesimus, meaning "hundredth," reflecting its role as a subunit in decimal-based monetary systems. Historically, the centime was introduced in as part of 's revolutionary decimal currency reform, dividing the new into 100 centimes to simplify transactions and align with the . It served as the primary small-denomination coin for everyday use in , with and later aluminum issues minted in values from 1 to 25 centimes, featuring designs like the symbolizing liberty during the Second Republic and beyond. The and its centime circulated widely until 2002, when they were phased out in favor of the ; smaller centime denominations gradually fell out of use due to , with the 5 centime coin demonetized in 1966 and production of 1 and 5 centime coins ceasing in 2001, and all coins fully demonetized in 2005. Today, the centime continues as the official subunit in active currencies, including the (commonly called centime) in French-speaking countries of the . It notably denominates the (CHF) in and , where 100 centimes equal one and coins are issued in 5, 10, 20, and 50 centime denominations. It also denominates the (XAF) and (XOF) in 14 African nations, the (DZD) with 100 centimes per (though rarely used in practice due to their minimal value), and the (), where it is interchangeably called santim. These usages maintain the centime's legacy in multilingual contexts, often alongside local names like Rappen in or santimat in Arabic-speaking .

Etymology and Definition

Etymology

The term centime entered English from French in the late 18th century, with the earliest recorded use in 1796 referring to the French coin equal to one hundredth of a franc. In French, centime was coined during the decimal monetary reform of the Revolutionary period, specifically around 1795, as part of the new franc system, drawing on the structure of décime (a tenth part). The word derives from Old French centiesme or centisme, meaning "hundredth," which traces back to Latin centēsimus (hundredth), the ordinal form of centum (hundred). This etymological root emphasizes the unit's role as a centesimal (one-hundredth) subdivision, paralleling terms like in other languages, and reflects the influence of Latin numerical terminology on modern Romance-language coinage nomenclature.

Definition

A centime is a monetary subunit equivalent to one hundredth (1/100) of a or similar base currency unit, primarily used in French-speaking countries and territories. The term derives from the French word for "hundredth," reflecting its role as a fractional in decimal-based systems. It has been employed historically with national francs, such as the , , and , where it represented the smallest commonly circulating coin values. In contemporary usage, the centime continues as the designation for the euro's subunit (the ) in within the , appearing on coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 centimes. It also serves as the official subunit for the (divided into 100 centimes, alongside the German "Rappen") and the in and Central countries (though centime coins are rarely issued). This subunit facilitates small-scale transactions and price expressions, maintaining consistency across franc-influenced monetary traditions despite the euro's adoption in 2002.

Historical Development

Introduction in France

The centime was introduced in as a subunit of the new decimal system established during the . On 15 August 1795 (28 Thermidor An III in the ), the passed the Monetary Law, which replaced the traditional with the , divided into 10 décimes (tenths) and 100 centimes (hundredths). This reform aimed to simplify and standardize the complex pre-revolutionary monetary system, which had been based on non-decimal divisions like 20 sous to a , by aligning with the emerging of weights and measures. The silver was defined as weighing 5 grams of 90% fine silver, with the centime representing one-hundredth of that value, facilitating easier calculations and trade. The term "centime," derived from the Old French "centiesme" meaning "hundredth," first appeared in official use around this period, reflecting the decimal emphasis of the reform. Initial coinage included copper centimes minted from 1795 onward, though production was limited due to economic instability and the ongoing wars of the Revolution. These early coins, often featuring revolutionary symbols like the Phrygian cap or Liberty's profile, circulated alongside assignats (paper money) but faced challenges from inflation and counterfeiting. By 1796, the Directory began more systematic minting, with the 1-centime piece weighing 2 grams of copper, though widespread adoption was hampered until stabilization efforts later. The centime's role solidified under Napoleon Bonaparte's Consulate. In 1800, the establishment of the Banque de France provided institutional support for the currency, and the Law of 7 Germinal An XI (28 March 1803) fixed the 's metallic standard—known as the germinal franc—at 4.5 grams of silver (90% fine) for the 5-franc piece, with centimes scaled accordingly. This reform ended the monetary volatility of the Revolutionary era, making the centime a stable everyday unit for small transactions, such as market purchases or wages. By the early , higher-denomination centime coins (5, 10, and 20 centimes in billon or silver) were introduced to meet practical needs, marking the centime's integration into economic life.

Adoption in Other Countries

The centime was adopted as the subunit of the in 1832, shortly after Belgium's independence from the , when the new kingdom established its at parity with the and divided it into 100 centimes to facilitate trade and alignment with French monetary standards. This subdivision mirrored the French system, promoting economic integration in the region, with early coins issued in denominations such as 1, 2, 5, and 10 centimes. In , the federal constitution of 1848 laid the groundwork for a unified , leading to the of the in 1850 under the Federal Coinage Act, explicitly divided into 100 centimes (or rappen in German-speaking regions) to standardize coinage across cantons and align with the French franc's decimal structure. Initial coins included 1, 2, 5, and 10 centime pieces, reflecting the metric-inspired decimalization that had influenced French reforms. Luxembourg followed suit in 1854 by issuing its first franc coins, subdivided into 100 centimes, replacing the and tying the currency's value to the and Belgian francs for stability amid regional economic ties. Denominations began with 2½, 5, and 10 centimes in silver and , supporting local commerce while maintaining parity. Monaco adopted the Monegasque franc in 1837, equivalent to the and divided into 100 centimes, as part of broader influence on its monetary system; this arrangement persisted until the euro's introduction, with Monaco minting its own centime coins alongside ones. Beyond , introduced the gourde in 1813 as its national post-independence, subdivided into 100 centimes to establish economic sovereignty while drawing on colonial precedents; early silver were struck in 6, 12, and 25 centime values. In the mid-20th century, the —created in 1945 for colonies in Africa—was structured with 100 centimes as subunits, replacing earlier colonial francs and providing monetary stability pegged to the , though centime-denominated were never issued in practice. This system extended to multiple West and Central African nations upon independence, perpetuating the centime's role in former Francophone territories.

Current Usage

In Non-Euro Currencies

The centime functions as a fractional unit in various non-Eurozone currencies, particularly those with historical ties to the French franc system in francophone Africa, the Pacific, and Europe. These currencies maintain the centime as one-hundredth of the base unit, reflecting colonial legacies, though practical usage varies from active coinage to nominal division only. This structure facilitates minor transactions in theory, but inflation and economic factors often render centime denominations obsolete or unused in daily commerce. In , the (CHF) actively employs the centime as its official subunit, with one franc equaling 100 centimes. The issues circulating coins in 5-, 10-, 20-, and 50-centime denominations, made from copper-nickel or similar alloys, which remain for small payments. These coins, alongside higher-value franc pieces, support the multilingual Swiss economy, where "centime" is the French term for the subunit (equivalent to "rappen" in , "centesimi" in , and "rap" in Romansh). This active integration underscores the centime's role in a stable, non-pegged currency outside the framework. Several African and Pacific currencies, pegged to the or through historical arrangements, nominally divide into 100 centimes without issuing corresponding coins or notes. The (XOF), shared by eight nations including and Côte d'Ivoire under the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), exemplifies this: it equals 100 centimes, but no centime instruments have ever been produced, limiting its use to conceptual accounting amid the currency's fixed 1:655.957 with the . Similarly, the (XAF), used in six countries like and via the (BEAC), follows the identical 100-centime division, with the peg ensuring convertibility but no physical subunits in circulation. The (KMF) and (DJF), respectively pegged to the and U.S. , also subdivide into 100 centimes, though has sidelined any potential low-value coins, emphasizing the subunit's archival rather than transactional presence. The (XPF), circulating in French overseas territories such as and , mirrors this pattern at a 1:119.33 peg to the , with 100 centimes defined but absent from issuance since the 1940s. In the (DZD), the centime persists as a defunct subunit worth one-hundredth of the , introduced during the 1964 currency reform but discontinued in practice due to eroding its value below usability. No centime coins circulate today, and transactions occur in whole dinars or higher, highlighting how economic pressures can marginalize the centime even in officially defined systems. The (MAD) subdivides into 100 santims (equivalent to centimes), with the issuing circulating coins in 10, 20, and 50 santim denominations, alongside higher values, for everyday use in this non-pegged North African economy. Across these non-Euro contexts, the centime symbolizes continuity from monetary influence, prioritizing larger denominations for modern economies while retaining the fractional framework for international standardization.

In the Eurozone

In the , the is subdivided into 100 units officially termed "cents" in English and across most member states' documentation from the . However, in French-speaking countries such as , , , and , the colloquial and often official term "centime" (or "centime d'euro") is commonly used to refer to these subunits, reflecting linguistic continuity from pre-euro franc-based currencies. This usage avoids confusion with the French word "cent," which means "hundred," and aligns with everyday speech in these regions. For instance, the describes as "1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 centimes" in its official materials on currency. In , "centime" has been the standard spoken and written term for the euro cent since the currency's introduction in 2002, appearing in government publications, banking resources, and public communications. The similarly employs "cent(ime)" in French-language descriptions of euro denominations, indicating its acceptance in the . Luxembourg's central bank uses "cents" in some technical specifications but reverts to "centimes" in fiscal and pricing contexts, such as environmental taxes measured in "centimes d'." In , which adopted the unilaterally in 2002, numismatic and official references consistently label the subunits as "centimes d'." This linguistic preference does not alter the euro's uniform structure or status across the 20 countries, where all - to 50- coins are interchangeable regardless of or terminology. The term "centime" thus serves primarily as a regional in Francophone areas, coexisting with the international "cent" in multilingual or English contexts, such as guidelines. While low-denomination coins ( and 2 centimes) face reduced circulation in some countries due to practices in cash transactions, their validity and the "centime" nomenclature remain unchanged.

Obsolete Usages

Pre-Euro Franc Currencies

The pre-euro currencies, primarily those of , , and , all employed the centime as their official subunit, with one subdivided into 100 centimes. These currencies originated in the as part of the , which standardized the across several European nations to facilitate trade, and remained in circulation until their replacement by the between 1999 and 2002. The centime, derived from the Latin "centum" meaning one hundred, was typically minted in base metals like or for low denominations, reflecting the monetary system introduced in during the Revolutionary era. In France, the French franc was established in 1795 following the Revolution, marking one of the earliest adoptions of a decimal currency worldwide, with the centime introduced as its hundredth part. Centime coins were issued in denominations such as 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 25 from the early 19th century, often in copper or nickel, and served everyday transactions until the late 20th century; for instance, aluminum 1-centime pieces circulated from 1948 to 1989. The franc, including its centimes, was also used in associated territories like Monaco and Andorra, maintaining a fixed parity with the French unit. France adopted the euro on January 1, 1999, at a conversion rate of 1 euro = 6.55957 francs, with dual circulation ending on February 17, 2002, after which centime coins lost legal tender status but could be exchanged at the Banque de France indefinitely. The , introduced upon Belgium's independence in 1832, similarly divided into 100 centimes—known as "centiem" in Dutch and "centime" in —and was minted starting in 1832 with 1- and 2-centime , later expanding to 5, 10, 25, and 50 centimes in various metals like and . These , produced by the Royal Belgian Mint, circulated widely until the 1990s, with the 50-centime piece noted for its silver content until 1967. Pegged to the under the from 1865, the transitioned to the on , 1999, at 1 = 40.3399 francs, with centime denominations ceasing as on February 28, 2002, though exchangeable at the until 2004 for . Luxembourg's franc, adopted in 1848 to replace the , was subdivided into 100 centimes and initially relied on Belgian and coins before issuing its own from 1854 in denominations including 2½, 5, and 10 centimes in . By 1901, cupro-nickel replaced for higher centime values, and the maintained a 1:1 parity with the from 1921 onward, facilitating cross-border use. The Luxembourg franc joined the on January 1, 1999, at the same rate of 1 = 40.3399 francs as , with ending on February 28, 2002; centime coins remained exchangeable at the Banque centrale du Luxembourg until 2004.

Other Former Examples

The Algerian , introduced in 1848 during colonial rule and used until 1964 when it was replaced by the at par (1 dinar = 1 franc), was subdivided into 100 centimes. Similarly, the Moroccan franc, established in 1921 under the protectorate and withdrawn in 1960 following Morocco's , consisted of 100 centimes, with coins issued in denominations such as 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 centimes. The Tunisian , in circulation from 1891 to 1958 when it gave way to the (1 dinar = 1,000 francs), was also divided into 100 centimes, featuring and coins for smaller units. In , the Malagasy franc served as Madagascar's from 1925 until its replacement by the ariary in 2005 at an of 1 ariary = 5 francs; it was subdivided into 100 centimes, though centime coins became scarce due to in later years. Further afield, the piastre of , used across , , and from 1885 to 1953, equated to 100 centimes (or cents), with and centime coins minted for everyday transactions under colonial administration. These examples illustrate the widespread adoption of the centime as a hundredth subunit in French-influenced colonial monetary systems, many of which persisted post-independence before eventual obsolescence.

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