Here's a thread that I posted on Numis Forums in January, that I would like to share with my colleagues at Coin Talk. First, the coin, a very rare surviving example, having the trident privy mark on the reverse of Zéphyrin Camélinat, who was the treasurer of the Commune. France, Paris, The Commune, 5 francs, 1871 A. Trident privy mark. KM823 25.00 grams Mintage: 75,000 And now, some historical context. This coin was produce during the turbulence following the defeat of France by Prussia and her German allies in the Franco-Prussian War. The despotic Napoleon III and the remnants of his army, defeated in the disastrous battle of Sedan (September 1, 1870 – September 2, 1870), were now prisoners. The Second French Empire quickly ended, giving way to the Third Republic on September 4, 1870. Following the defeat at Sedan, the Prussian-led North German Confederation forces advanced on Paris, laying a siege that lasted from September 19, 1870 to January 28, 1871, ending in the temporary occupation of parts of Paris by German army. German troops remained east of the city limits. The Treaty of Frankfurt, signed on 10 May 1871 officially ended the war, with France ceding Alsace-Lorraine to Germany, thus sowing at least one seed that eventually culminated in World War I. It was in the backdrop of the war that the Commune of Paris sprang forth. The Commune was comprised of the French National Guard, comprised of mostly working class background soldiers, stationed in Paris, and civilians who, in a reaction to the repressive social structure instituted under Napoleon III, sought to establish a progressive socialist system of governance. An added factor to what would become basically a civil war for Paris was the divide that existed in France at the time between more Catholic and conservative rural areas and the republican and radical urban centers of Paris, Marseille and Lyon. From Wikipedia, this is an encapsulation of the Commune's policies: "These policies included the separation of church and state, self-policing, the remission of rent, the abolition of child labor, and the right of employees to take over an enterprise deserted by its owner. All Roman Catholic churches and schools were closed. Feminist, socialist, communist, old style social democracy (which was a mix of reformism and revolutionism [sic]) and anarchist currents played important roles in the Commune." The formation of the Third Republic's parliament, in Bordeaux, in February 1871, created a predominantly conservative body, led by Adolphe Thiers. It was a confrontation between the mayor of Paris, the National Guard on one side and Thiers and Cabinet and members of the Army on the other side over cannons located in Paris that created the start of the Commune on March 17, 1871. The taking of two National Guard cannons with the help of women and children. The Cabinet's attempts to seize the cannons resulted in confrontations between the Army and the National guardsmen, including the killing of General Clément-Thomas by National Guardsmen. Outnumbered, Thiers and his government ultimately decided to withdraw from Paris to Versailles on March 18, 1871 and wait until sufficient forces arrived to retake the city. Thus began the Commune and the siege. A barricade thrown up by national guards on 18 March 1871. Under the leadership of the National Guard of the Commune, guardsmen occupied vacated government ministries. Adopting the French Republican Calendar and adopting the red flag of revolution, the Commune Council issued decrees, including, from Wikipedia: "Separation of church and state; Remission of rents owed for the entire period of the siege (during which payment had been suspended); Abolition of child labour and night work in bakeries; Granting of pensions to the unmarried companions and children of national guardsmen killed in active service;Free return by pawnshops of all workmen's tools and household items, valued up to 20 francs, pledged during the siege; Postponement of commercial debt obligations, and the abolition of interest on the debts; Right of employees to take over and run an enterprise if it were deserted by its owner; the Commune, nonetheless, recognised the previous owner's right to compensation; Prohibition of fines imposed by employers on their workmen." Following a failed attempt to take Versailles by the National Guard, a war in which prisoners and hostages were routinely executed by both sides ensued. Mass execution became the norm. By May 21, 1871 the French National Army entered Paris. What followed is known as the "Bloody Week". The execution of hostages. Street fighting at a barricade. Aftermath of street fighting. Street battles followed throughout the city. When Paris was retaken, casualties totaled 877 killed, 6,454 wounded, and 183 missing for the Republic and an estimated 6,667 confirmed killed and buried for the Commune. Estimates for the Commune range between 10,000 to 15,000 to as high as 20,000 dead according to Wikipedia. The significance of the Commune continues to the present. Its impact on history in the realm of political thought can be seen from the writings of Marx and Engles, through to the Bolshevik Revolution and beyond, in all manifestations. The Commune also produced various medals or tokens. Here are two in bronze. France, Paris, Commune bronze token, Committee of Public Safety, Dictatorship of Five, 1871. 28mm, 9.25 grams France, Paris, Commune bronze token, Committee of Public Safety, Dictatorship of Five, commemorating the federating of the National Guard in 1871. 28mm; 10.60 grams. For those interested in more information on the history of the Paris Commune, an often overlooked page, here's the link to Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Commune
