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”Black birds tend to like Shiny Things.” ~ The Bloody Raven
Yes, I had my eye on one good specimen and I finally picked one up.
There are so many points of interest about this coin regarding its design, history, and varieties I can’t begin to scratch the surface so I better keep it brief and simple.
This beautiful Crown sized coin is remarkably more common than I thought with circulated coins going for a modest premium above spot so I decided to go with a better quality uncirculated coin while this coin had some white spotting which took away some eye appeal it didn’t really affect the overall grade, Perhaps I should have spent a bit more for my Numismatist side rather than my Stacker side.
The Big French Coin
Again the coin’s matte finish tends to make photography a bit difficult to get a good shot or two.
In my research one surprise about this coin is that it remained legal tender up to 1980, well past the time all other countries had fully long gone fiat as far as circulating strikes are concerned. Though silver bullion value was less than face value plenty of these coins where scurried away in hoards and thus many good quality coins are readily available. And, !980 is about the time Silver bullion prices spiked to $50 per ounce, chances are many lower grade coins may have been melted down for bullion leaving the more quality collectibles.
Now for the big money obverse side.
The new coinage is a refreshing change in coinage is the lack of the ruling Monarch’s bust. No surprise following the birth of the fledgling new Republic we can begin to understand why the allegorical trio was used in place of the monarch. In 1791 a competition was organized for new coin designs for a proposed new currency and economic reform of the new Republic. The currency will see a gradual change from the old Livres into the French Republic’s Franc.
purportedly designed and commissioned this medal and had met the visiting Benjamin Franklin serving as Ambassador to France.
His Hercules design is a fine example of art work drawing inspiration from the Neo-classical arts. This original design persisted 200 years coming back again over the decades and years. While the allegorical Representation of the French Republic's Marieanne tend to change having different forms over the five successive Republics over the years but this original Dupré Hercules design always remained.
Though the French personification of Marianne was the popular representation of Liberty, Fraternity, Equality Augustine Dupré chose to portray the new Republics motto into three allegorical figures. Liberty with her Pikestaff and Phrygian cap, the trio are collectively representative of Fraternity, Equality is represented by the woman on the right holding an architectural scale.
Meanwhile, the appeal of the allegory of the Goddess of Liberty continued in popularity being adopted by more and more New World countries, each gaining their own Independence over the following century.
Some closing thoughts on this coin
I admit that this coin has become one of my favorites and prompts me to look for a 1974-1980 50 Franc coin for my collection. Just like the one @thekittygirl posted not very long ago.
The Neo-Classical Allegory style has an enduring appeal such that I ponder if it is the original inspiration for the latest Germania Allegorical Series? If you’re a Stacker and budding Numismatist like me, I think so. What do you think? Please comment below.
Iterations of the Hercules Obverse on French coinage
5 FRANCS First Republic 1795-1802
5 FRANCS Second Republic 1848-1849
5 Francs Third Republic 1870-1889
10 FRANCS Fifth republic 1965 to 1973
50 FRANCS Fifth Republic 1974 to 1980
5 FRANCS Fifth Republic 1996 200th Anniversary Commemorative
Now for those into the pretty Banknotes
A pretty cool old note! I want to give a Special Thank you to my friend Punky’s Dad for loaning me this French Colonial note, and I wish you would sign up on Hive.io PD. I know you will be reading this. *Hint hint.*
And to everyone…
Thank you dropping in on my article and have an awesome day!
The #worldcoinwednesday tag is one of many strategic tags hatched by none other than the TAG MASTER @silverd510 to take over the all social block chains one post at a time. Give in to the Master and reveal your wondrous silver world coins.
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“Et lux in tenebris to serve laboro, sum sicarius” “I work in the shadows to serve the Light, I am an Assassin”
How awesome! You've been wanting one of those for a while, right? 🙌
Yes @thekittygirl I had this coin on my Shopping list for a while. I was always attracted to design and symbolism of this magnificent coin with so rich with the history behind it given the choice between Germania Allegory and the Dupre Hercules I'd go for the Franc.
I do have small local coin show twice a year but never found an uncirculated one and my coin shop rarely carries French crowns but some minors.
And, I cried when I watched a stage production of Les Miserablés. 😭
I will keep an eye out for a BU 1974-80 50 Franc version should an opportunity present itself.🇨🇵
Thanks for commenting! Au revoir! 🇫🇷
That is the way to hold such a beautiful coin. How about protecting it with a capsule?
I shudder thinking of someone putting his/hers fingers on the surface...
C'est manifique! I have it in a little ziplock for now until I find a proper capsule for it.
Gonna got to Youtube and watch Les Miserables again and get all so emotional.
Thanks for Commenting @ronaldoavelino
That is an awesome specimen of the Hercules 10 Francs! Indeed, sis... you are a budding numismatist! A numismatist I will never be... I will just be a stacker, with a few numismatic and semi-numismatic coins.
Take care, my lovely sis @kerrislravenhill 🥰🌺🤙, lots of love and a million and one Hugs and Kisses 🤗💕💋!
Sister @silversaver888, I remember sitting in a club meeting and it felt as if I was listening to Historians talk about their coins. There was an old gentleman that had a collection of Ancient Roman and Greek empire coins and he knew the military battles, political history, economics as well as the names of the emperors, kings, etc of every coin he had by heart and spoke like a seasoned University professor without ever sounding dull. He had a hearing problem but a very impressive and learned man.
Now you know where I got my writing parlance.
Always with Fraternal love, 🌺 💝 🌹 💓 🌸🇨🇵🇨🇵
That is a fantastic example Kerris. Nice addition to the collection.
Thank you for commenting @silverd510
I finally scraped enough time and energy over the week to piece together this article, there so much to chose about to write about this epic coin that is hard to define in just the confines of a blog. Maybe I should just throw my hands up and just post the pictures an let the coin speak for itself. Lol!
Nice coins, seems fun collecting older coins too
Even more fun when I get back into writing in @silversaver888 back into the #fiestatuesday Historical Fiction of Teresa D'Mordecai as the French gunslinger Nun Sister Argenta Savoire.
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