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Message:: [QUOTE="old49er, post: 2925464, member: 78229"]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.[ATTACH=full]709314[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]709315[/ATTACH]Country <a href="https://en.numista.com/catalogue/france-1.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.numista.com/catalogue/france-1.html" rel="nofollow">France</a>Type Common coinYear 1792Value 5 Sols (1/4)Metal BronzeWeight 27 gDiameter 40 mmShape RoundOrientation Coin alignment ↑↓Demonetized 1793References KM# Tn31ObverseLarge oval shape shows soldiers on right Lettering: VIVRE LIBRES OU MOURIR ·PACTE FEDERATIF·14 JUILLET.DUPRE.F.1790 Engraver: Augustin Dupré ReverseLarge circle contains nine rows of lettering Lettering: MONNERON FRERES NEGOCIANS A PARIS ·MEDAILLEDE CONFIANCEDE CINQ-SOLSREMBOURSABLEEN ASSIGNATSDE 50. ETAU DESSUS .L'AN IV. DE LALIBERTÉ1792 Engraver: Augustin Dupré EdgeLettering: 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... [MEDIA=youtube]M2LsvSQ--wc[/MEDIA][/QUOTE]

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