France 5 Francs 1800's

French coin essai

On this webpage, you will find a similar piece, including some historic information in French.
If you need help translating, let me know!

http://www.cgb.fr/monnaies/vso/v14/fr/monnaiesf5a2.html?depart=581&nbfic=1619

 

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Thank you for the link. It covers the history of the unrest and revolution of 1848, which I studied decades ago, but also makes a tantalizing reference to the "Concours de 5 Francs." GDJMSP's beauty traces back to a "Concours de 10 Centimes" in the same year. But I don't know the history of these contests.

I do own one other French Pattern -- a 1793 copper with the familiar "Angle Writing" motif:

 

Beautiful Pattern benveniste!

 

Here they are:

3 Louis

2 Napoleon III

Not great condition.

 

Sweet

 

Here's another one from the California Gold Rush year of 1849:


France 5 Francs 1849-A (Paris) Ceres Head

 

And Europeans would associate those years (1848/49) with the revolutions in various countries here. In France, the 1848 revolution that benveniste mentioned ended the monarchy under Louis Philippe; guess that also explains why there was a particular need in that year to make new trial/essai pieces (see posts #14 and 18) ...

Christian

 

I was on vacation in early January when you posted your essais. I didn't see it until now. It is really nice & thanks for posting it.

 

Now if anyone can post a Napoleon I five Franc we can move on... :yes:

 

Thanks GD, but I meant Napoleaon I "The Bonaparte".

 

Closest I have

Closest I have is an 1813 - Milan 5 Soldi from Napoleon's Kingdom of Italy.

 

Thank you Rex. Good to see THE Bonaparte again !!! I have been bottom fishing for the 5 franc piece of him, but alas no success.... Yet !!!

 

Late but good:

5 Francs year 12 (1803-04) KM 659.10 (mint: Toulouse) and 5 Francs 1812 KM 694.5 (mint: Lyon)

Now it is complete

 

Nice KV... I have not given up, but I have not gotten a good one yet !!!!!

 

1848 was a very turbulent year in France (and much of mainland Europe, for that matter). "Citizen King" Louis Philippe had been deposed, and France was entering the Second Republic with no hereditary leader-- thus the return to imagery and slogan from the French Revolution.