Hi all, I recently acquired this Token /coin. Some interesting History with this one. Thought i would share with you all. The Tokens were produced by Mathew Boulton who supplied Planchets for the early American Copper Coinage. Country France Type Common coin Year 1792 Value 5 Sols (1/4) Metal Bronze Weight 27 g Diameter 40 mm Shape Round Orientation Coin alignment ↑↓ Demonetized 1793 References KM# Tn31 Obverse Large oval shape shows soldiers on right Lettering: VIVRE LIBRES OU MOURIR · PACTE FEDERATIF· 14 JUILLET. DUPRE.F. 1790 Engraver: Augustin Dupré Reverse Large circle contains nine rows of lettering Lettering: MONNERON FRERES NEGOCIANS A PARIS · MEDAILLE DE CONFIANCE DE CINQ-SOLS REMBOURSABLE EN ASSIGNATS DE 50. ET AU DESSUS . L'AN IV. DE LA LIBERTÉ 1792 Engraver: Augustin Dupré Edge Lettering: DEPARTEMENTS DE PARIS RHONE ET LOIRE DE GARD ou DEPARTEMENS DE PARIS RHONE ET LOIRE DU GARD By 1791, Joseph-François-Augustin had founded a merchant bank in Paris backed financially by his brother Jean-Louis. Pierre-Antoine joined his two brothers and it is these three who became known as the Frères Monnerons. In the same year, Joseph-François-Augustin applied for and successfully obtained the right to strike copper token coinage. This right had however also been granted to other private individuals and it was perhaps to ensure the popularity of their own tokens over rival pieces that the Monneron Brothers chose designs from the greatest French engraver of the revolutionary era, Augustin Dupré (1748-1833). Born in Saint-Étienne, the birthplace of several notable engravers, Dupré had already made his name as a medallist of genius producing many fine medals commemorating the American War of Independence, before becoming the Engraver General of the French mints in 1791. Indeed it was he who had designed the official Constitutional issue of coinage struck from that year. The high production quality required of these large and heavy tokens caused Matthew Boulton considerable problems, which were exacerbated by his business rival Thomas Williams, the Anglesey copper magnate, who did his best to limit Boulton’s supply of copper. Nevertheless, the staff of the Soho Mint worked hard to improve production and by late January 1792, two presses were in operation striking forty-five of the five sols tokens per minute. Though this was a slight reduction when compared to the usual striking speed, it lessened wear and tear on the machinery and actually increased production. A problem with recoil of the press arm due to the weight and size of the tokens was overcome by the use of a double air pump. In spite of the best efforts of Boulton and his staff however, the problems persisted as is witnessed in the following report made by Boulton to the Monneron Brothers in February 1792: The great force which I find [must be used] to strike the 5 sous pieces has broke, bent, & deranged, most of the parts of the press’s ……But this is not the only misfortune for this day one of the great Bars or Ballances of the Press broke & with the great weight, that is fixed upon the ends of it, fell down & has very much hurt one of my best Workmen & I fear hath broke his arm, this happend within this half hour. I have sent for a Surgeon...
Are you sure the weight is right on that token? Boulton struck a 2 sol and the 5 Sol tokens for them and my recollection was that the 5 sol was close to the size and weight of the two pence that he made for the British in 1797. (I don't have my example on hand to check) That should make the weight closer to 56 grams.
Hi Condor101, Interesting... This coin was not attributed with any specs. , so i used Numista to research and ID it. I wonder if the specs. are correct. I don't have it in hand yet. Sellers photos, but I will weigh it when it arrives and update this thread.
I used to have a nice one once ago, but sold it to make a profit. Nice piece of history. Now I just hace assignats.
I really like the History behind these type of coins too. I got this one for $14.00 U.S.! I guess he didn't realize what he had.
Cool story about the production of this piece. I don't really understand what's going on in the picture of the obverse? Why are the soldiers saluting? a guy holding a sack of flour? At $14, I'd say you got a pretty good deal, but this is a low grade piece that seems to have some problems. A quick search shows some VF+ pieces in the $75 range (I'd put yours a bit below that). Congrats on the neat pickup!
Thanks for the feedback. Here's a description i found online. The beautifully detailed engraving captures a scene, which was actually acted out during the Festival. It features Federal Guards offering a revolutionary salute to a female figure representing France. She sits beside an obelisk and holds a tablet bearing the words “CONSTITUTION DES FRANÇAIS”. Before her is a pedestal bearing the profile of Louis XVI and behind her is a shield bearing the royal coat-of-arms of three fleurs-de-lis. The engraver's signature “DUPRE.F.” (for Dupré fecit – “Dupré made this”) appears below the female figure, and beneath that are two crushed parchments symbolising the removal of privileges from the church and the nobility (one parchment bears the French word “DIME” meaning “tithe”, while the other bears the letters “PRIV” – the beginning of the French word privilèges). Above the image are the words “PACTE FEDERATIF”. The cogent legend reads “VIVRE LIBRES - OU MOURIR” - to live free or to die (this exhortation also appears, along with a Phrygian cap mounted on a spear, on the flags flying above the soldiers’ heads). The date of the oath in exergue "14 JUILLET 1790"
Great piece at a good price. The history and story are worth far more than an MS69 clad quarter - I don't care if it's from NGC or PCGS!.
