France 185x W 10 Centimes Sedan Satirical Engraving

Discussion in 'World Coins' started by The Eidolon, Feb 10, 2026 at 3:47 PM.

  1. The Eidolon

    The Eidolon Well-Known Member

    Got this recently from a local shop. I'd heard of the "Sedan" satirical carvings mocking Napoleon III's loss to the German Confederation, but this is the first I've seen one
    with the "Prussian helmet" type carving.
    collage copy.jpg
    I think the "1870" date is just punched in for the year of the battle. The original date is
    obscured, but the W mint mark (Lille) I believe was minted 1853-1857.

    I wonder if the coin was carved contemporaneously to the battle, or later.
    The base coins are quite cheap, so if the carved ones were popular, there may have
    been a cottage industry carving them even much later.

    Here's a 2 Francs I got earlier protesting the defeat with punched lettering: Napoleon III 2Fr 1866 "Sedan" copy.jpeg

    And here's an 1807 5 Francs from someone who didn't care for the first Napoleon:
    France Napoleon 5 Francs 1807 copy.jpeg

    Finally here's my only coin issued by Sedan, a double tournois of 1634-38.
    It's a bit worn, but it was a 25 cent junk bin find from many years ago! Sedan Double Tournois 1634-38 copy.jpeg
    Please feel free to post any Napoleon or Sedan related coinage!
     
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  3. Dafydd

    Dafydd Supporter! Supporter

    Thank you @The Eidolon , that is an interesting coin. The French infantry outgunned the Germans with their Chassepot rifles good to 1200 metres whilst the Germans had the notoriously fickle Dreyse Needle Rifle with a 600 metre range and lower velocity. Unfortunately the French took a not unknown defensive stance so were hammered by the Prussian 6 pounder breech loading Krupp cannons. The French were using muzzle loading bronze cannons. They did have a secret machine gun but it was so secret they didn't teach anyone how to use it !!
    I rebuilt a Dreyse rifle once and it was a nightmare to renovate and use. I have some friends in the Historical Breech Loading Society who shoot theirs often.
    I thought I would mention this without going into detail as the coin you have lampooning the French could easily have been used on the other foot had the French been better organised. I have not seen this coin before and it makes a great political statement at a time which was a technological turning point for breech loading firearms in Europe.
    Thank you for sharing a really interesting collection. My money is on a contemporary production whilst the victory was still in everyone's minds and of course by 1871 we have the Siege of Paris , the Kaiser and the birth of the modern German empire with your coin celebrating the progression to the eventual two world wars.
     
  4. Hiddendragon

    Hiddendragon World coin collector

    Here's one that I have. Found it in a junk bin once. 1854 france 10 centimes hobo.jpg
     
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