1853, France, Napoleon III, Lille mint, 10 Centimes, KM 771, reused as token.

France, Napoleon III, 1853 AD., Lille mint (signed W), engraver Jean Jacques Barre (1793-1855), type struck 1852-1867,
10 Centimes (30,2 mm / 9,08 g), originally 10,00 g, mintage 3.240.204 pieces, reused as token,
Obv.: [NAPO]LEON III EMP[EREUR] / 1853 // BARRE , bare head of Napoleon III facing left, signed by engraver´s name below, punchmark "57" on neck - tête nue de Napoléon III à gauche, signé BARRE au dessous, poincon "57".
Rev.: EMPIRE FR[ANCAIS / * DIX CENTIMES *] // W , eagle standing on thunderbolt, wings open, head turned r., mint mark W below - aigle debout de face sur un foudre, les ailes ouvertes, la tête tournée à droite, au-dessous, la lettre d'atelier W, le tout dans un grènetis.
KM 771 ; F.133/9 .

"Figleaf" (Peter) commented on 03/11/2010:

"At this time, French and Italian 5 and 10 centimes coins were exported in quantity to Britain to serve as advertising pieces, as they resembled halfpennies and pennies. Here are some possible scenarios:

This piece may have been found too worn to be stamped with an advertisement. It was sold, with at least 56 others to a fancy London theater, where it was used in the cloak room. Guests would receive it for their coat, so the coat could be identified quickly and correctly after the show.

or (less likely, because such coins are usually holed)

This piece may have been found too worn to be stamped with an advertisement. It was sold, with at least 56 others to a factory. A worker taking a tool would have to leave it in the pace of the tool, to show who was using it and should return it.

or (not very likely either, as the coin is not holed)

This piece may have been found too worn to be stamped with an advertisement. It was sold, with at least 56 others to a mining company. Miners would hand it in as they entered the mine and pick it up on leaving again, giving the staff an instant list of miners present in the mine whenever there was an incident.

or (even less likely, because a fire brigade of 57 would be able to afford dedicated tokens of presence)

This piece may have been found too worn to be stamped with an advertisement. It was sold, with at least 56 others to a fire brigade. On their way to the fire, the commander woud collect the tokens from those present. When the fire was extinguished, the men would reclaim their tokens. If any remained, there would have to be a search for a body in the ambers..."