Howdy peeps, I recently purchased a French Un Decime (10 Cents) that I thought was a flip-over double strike and when it got in, I realized it was a Un Decime struck over a 2 Decime (20 Cents). I've never seen anything like this before (these denominations) and I've also never heard of the 2 Decime being revalued to a 1 Decime, so I don't know the skinny on this one but I would love to know if there was a devaluation that occurred, so any input will be greatly appreciated. :thumb: Ribbit Ps: It's about the same size as a US half-dollar.
What a great coin Toad! Another interesting pick up of yours that I'm completely jealous of. Keep up the good finds! :thumb:
The only thing I can figure is the 2 Decime was struck on the wrong planchet, it was caught, then sent through again to correct the error, which created another error. Ribbit
I'm not sure why, but it appears the original striking was in error and they corrected it. Here's one similar to mine: http://cgi.ebay.fr/France-rare-deci...s?hash=item1c0ad3167e&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116 And they also corrected it with a counterstamp: http://cgi.ebay.fr/1-decime-AN-4-A-...s?hash=item2e9e9d110f&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116 If anyone knows the story behind how this happened, I'd love to hear it. :thumb: Ribbit
I honestly have no idea about French coinage but I'll make a guess of what happened. Back in the early 1700s to 1800s, coins unlike now were struck against the metal value of copper, silver and gold. There may have been a time when copper prices rose dramatically and crashed within a short period of time. It would be expensive to recall all the circulating coins, melt them down, create new planchets and strike new coins. It was economical back then to overstrike previous circulating coins. I believe a fair amount of the early French coins were overstruck as well as Russian coins. In fact, I believe there were a fair bit of European coinages that were involved with overstriking - it's just not well documented.
What a super coin to find, very well done sir :hug: I collect French coins in a small way and have never come across one quite like that :hail:
What kind of edge decoratoin is that? I have never seen anything like that, it's kind of like overlapped diaganal reeding criss crossing.
I talked with Will Nipper about it and he said the same thing. The Spanish were also notorious for doing it but they'd use counterstamps instead of restriking, which the French did all the time. Ribbit
Several French coins I have (US Colonial) also have interesting edge decorations but nothing like this one. I like the edge on this one. :thumb: It came from the UK: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350235512071&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT Ribbit
Great find, I'm not sure I ever would have clicked on a link for an unknown coin. Guess it pays to be curious.
I'm a toad, I'll click on anything. Like this group: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330351331672&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT There's a 1773 Virginia half-penny hidden in it and then there's this group: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150366599093&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT There's a 1672'ish Saint Patrick's farthing hidden it in, along with who knows what else (hasn't come in yet) and it's worth a lot more than I paid for the entire group. And don't get me going on the ones I came in 2nd on. Ribbit
OK I have had it..... We have had poor quality control at the mints for 2,700 years now !!!!! Something has to be done !!!!! These defilers of the gelt must be punished, severely!!!!! Traci
