The Saar, the 10th state of the German Federal Republic, islocated in the coal-rich Saar basin on the Franco-German frontier, and has an area of 991 sq. mi. and a population of 1.2 million. 

Capital: Saarbrucken. It is an important center of mining andheavy industry.

From the late 14th century until the fall of Napoleon, the cityof Saarbrucken was ruled by the counts of Nassau-Saarbrucken,but the surrounding territory was subject to the political and cultural domination of France. At the close of the Napoleonic era, theSaarland came under the control of Prussia. France wasawarded the Saar coal mines following World War I, and the Saarland was made an autonomous territory of the League of Nations,its future political affiliation to be determined by referendum. Theplebiscite, 1935, chose re-incorporation into Germany. Francereoccupied the Saarland, 1945, establishing strong economicties and assuming the obligation of defense and foreign affairs.After sustained agitation by West Germany, France agreed in1955, to the return of the Saar to Germany by Jan. 1957.

MINT MARK

(a) - Paris - privy marks only