Howdy fellow coin peeps, :thumb: In 1767, France issued 1.6 million copper Sols (valued originally at 12 Deniers) for use in the French Colonies in the Caribbean. However, as with the earlier nine deniers coppers (1721-1722), these coins were not accepted and few of them found their way into circulation. They were then recalled to Paris where they were given an RF counterstamp (République Française) and reissued in the islands as "collots" that passed at a rate of nine deniers. It has been thought that many of these "collots" made their way to New Orleans through trade and probably circulated in greater numbers after France regained the Louisiana Territory from Spain in 1800. The copper Sols continued to circulate in Louisiana after the United States purchased the territory in 1803 and apparently made their way into other sections of America and circulated at the value of one cent during the coin shortage following the War of 1812. Because of their presence in "American" change, they are considered part of the American Colonial series, despite their manufacture overseas. Also, Breen suggests that 99 percent of the 1767 copper Sols were eventually counterstamped with the oval RF counterstamp. Thus, the one being presented here today is considered rare, with approximately twenty-thousand or less thought to exist today without the RF counterstamp. Ribbit Ps: I will add photos of my counterstamped version when it arrives, which should be any day now. Pps: The above info came from: Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. & Colonial Coins http://www.coins.nd.edu/ColCoin/ColCoinIntros/French.intro.html http://coinfacts.com/colonial_coins/french_colonies/1767_sous/1767_french_colonies_sou.htm
Here's the one with the RF Counterstamp. This one is in awesome shape and is as close to perfection, as I can afford. :thumb: Ribbit
