This is an interesting coin, and might not have gotten it except that I avidly collect Guyana and French Guyana is not far away so got this recently on eBay. The coin was a bit grungy and apparently is only of billon silver content, so conserved it with ordinary means (no jewel luster though). it is a fairly scarce coin - those who’d like to add to the story, please do! before: After:
Well, I did find out a bit more, to be shared shortly. Cleaning: Well, good ole dish soap and lots of water which after rinsing in the latter I use my FINGERS to work the soap into the devices and lettering and then really rinse the mess out of it. Then into the ammonia (courtesy of Giant grocery store here) for about 30 minutes, then more water rinsing (I tamp dry after each rinse with hi nap clean white cotton towel). Then, horror of horrors I did gently work "MS 70" into the surface with VERY soft and pre-soaked cotton swabs. Wow, a lot of grime pulled off and esp. the reverse of the coin which had some kind of grunge. Then the same soap and much rinse and tamp dry. Then back into the ammonia, then more rinse and tamp dry.... The google search says this is either nickel-silver or copper-nickel-zinc, so they are not too surer. The seller thought the coin of silver, possibly lower percentage. I looked up the French CGB web site and they say the coin is likely a fantasy and struck privately in Brussells some years later along with the large 5 Francs piece and a 10c piece. Also, it is not actually of French Guyana proper but rather attributed to the "Independent Republic of French Guyane" that only lasted from 1886-91 and was then reabsorbed by Brazil, with the rest of French speaking Guyana becoming that country! At one time there were no less than FIVE Guyanas! I will weigh the piece later today and report, the only instances I saw were purported 5.0 g. weight but the CGB site evidently having one weighted at 4.94 g.
OK. Once upon a time, a guy named Phillipe (or Gerard, I'm not sure which) was walking along a sidewalk in Guyanne Independante, when lo and behold, he spotted that coin lying upon the ground. He took it to the nearest bakery and used it to purchase a large baguette, which he then split open and covered with sliced steak, green peppers, onions, and melted cheese- yes- and some mushrooms, too- and made the nicest Philly Cheesesteak sammich ever seen in the Southern Hemisphere, whereupon he consumed that, and lived happily ever after. The End.
PS- guess what I just had for lunch. PPS- cool piece. I'd never seen the type, much less heard of that particular republic.
Hey LM, no fair, need to share that sandwich! I like your story though. Yes, all I have seen have "essai" on them and not any circulated examples so far. I weighed this coin and it is 4.85 gm. It does not look to be copper nickel or pot metal/white metal and more like the billon recounted in some of the references.
Essai coins are pattern coins and some do not have matching coins that were made for circulation. Some have more desirability then others. https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces59767.html
Indeed. However, the whole issue is possibly fantasy by a private minter according to the CGB site and for a barely legitimate and transient country. I don't read French but got a general understanding - I will see if I can post that page in a bit.
