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 Replies: 42 / Views: 6,593 |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
856 Posts |
A new area of collecting for me, but I recently felt I'd like a few coins with Marianne depicted on them. For those who aren't familiar with her, she was the symbol of the French revolution. However she may look familiar to many here, since the symbolism was picked up in other countries too and of course Liberty (particularly the capped versions) is her American cousin!  The second is an Argentine 2 Cents (albeit by a French engraver):  Seller's pics until they (and the other three) arrive. And of course in real life they aren't quite so large! More like this:  Fortunately, the cost wasn't too large either. Well, a lot cheaper than a similar US capped bust coin I think! |
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Pillar of the Community
France
1591 Posts |
Actually, it's normal to have lower price than old US coins : France was old already, while US was just a newborn country :) You picked very nice coins indeed (and cgb is the safest you can get from France :D ) Regarding the Marianne, it's not the symbol of the revolution, it's the symbol of the republic :) The Liverty statue was offered to the US by France, as they were both newborn republics, with in common the shining and enlightening liberty. You can read more about the Marianne history here : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marianne |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2448 Posts |
Great coins, I need to expand my French collection. Thanks for sharing, oh and the info on Marrianne.
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Pillar of the Community
 United Kingdom
856 Posts |
Thanks Mathieu, carmykle!
It's fun branching out a bit from what I usually collect. Plus I'm starting to learn a bit more history too!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3343 Posts |
My recollection is that the 1793-96 US Liberty on the cent is modeled directly from a Dupre medallion. And you can get ten better-looking L'an 5 French decimes for the price of one battered 1795 US cent.  vs  "Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
510 Posts |
Edited by davidrj
02/06/2014 06:43 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3343 Posts |
Here's a link to Dupre's 1781 Libertas Americana medallion I referred to. Strangely enough it predates the French revolution and republic...
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While common Dupre decimes sell for a few dollars (often found in foreign junk coin bins), this medallion sold for $115,000.
Edit: wups, they didn't like my link to another forum so you'll have to google it out yourself.
"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
Edited by thq
02/06/2014 06:53 am
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
510 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
510 Posts |
Here we have Marianne wearing the Phygrian Cap of Liberty  I think this design by Daniel Dupuis is one of the best depictions Edited by davidrj
02/06/2014 09:23 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3343 Posts |
Thanks for getting a working link davidrj I like the Art Nouveau Liberty too.
The American Libertys not so much. After 1796 there's a succession of uninspired work. Liberty-as-Bustman, Liberty-as-Britannia, Liberty-as-Ceres IMO. I think my avatar is the best one. Free flowing hair is important.
"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3253 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
856 Posts |
Cool! And thanks for the links.
I agree with thq! While I too quite like the art nouveau version, I think Oudine's has more of a look of Liberty with her wild hair. Like the Libertas medal, but with that all-important cap!
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Pillar of the Community
France
1591 Posts |
Woww cool, I didn't remembered that design. I was collecting French coins as a kid, but I'm not sure I had it :)
I'll check it out next time I go to my parent's place.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3343 Posts |
Tom, if you're looking for a coin that symbolizes the French Revolution  These tombstone-like "sol aux balances" or "sol dit a la table de loi" were made from a variety of metals. The color depends on what kind of church bell was being melted for coining metal. In worn condition they're very inexpensive even for rarer mintmarks, but they get pricey if the inscription on the tablet is readable. "Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
Edited by thq
02/06/2014 4:50 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
510 Posts |
Yes, and sometimes they had no copper to add to the bell metal, which is very hard (for obvious reasons) and totally unsuitable for coinage The Lille Mint had this problem, and most of their output for the 1793 2 sol Table issue looks like this  The table is readable, but the strike is awful and the flan has huge cracks a similar one in the CGB archives http://images6.cgb.fr/images/royale/bry_203708.jpgEdited by davidrj
02/06/2014 8:19 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3343 Posts |
Here's the balance side of the 5 coins above:  The Lille (top center) is the blackest and most flawed, and thanks for the corroborating information on the poor alloy davidrj. The Nantes has some of the same brittleness but not as severe. Bayonne is the most copper-colored, while the Metz and Limoges 2S are beige. These dogs are my pocket coin favorites. It's impossible to hurt their value, and they're portable pieces of history. "Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
Edited by thq
02/06/2014 10:50 pm
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Replies: 42 / Views: 6,593 |
Posted 02/05/2014 8:46 pm
