1852 Frang? Napoleon Bonaparte Error?

Hello Jgeiger,

This is not an error coin. It is a counterfeit coin. The comments in the previous thread (http://goccf.com/t/364069) where you showed us this coin were quite clear on that, but you are not convinced then.

Firstly, I assume the "error" you are referring to are the two "misspellings": FRANG instead of FRANC and FRANGAISE instead of FRANÇAISE. Now, an error of that magnitude is simply unimaginable. It would require the skilled French coin engraver, who is of course very well aware of the spelling of both franc and française, to make not one, but two mistakes. Then it has to pass through the several stages of quality control at the Paris mint, without anyone noticing such a grave error. And it would go out in circulation and to collectors, and there it would remain for more than 150 years without anyone making note of this - beacuse there are no records of an error like this, and there would be if there was, believe me - until now. It would be like a "UNITED STATEZ 5 CENTZ" coin slipping through all stages of checks and out into circulation.

You can also compare the lettering to a genuine example (look it up in Numista) and you will see that the letters do not look like they should, the counterfeiter has used a different font.

So whether the coin has the correct weight for a 1 franc coin is secondary, it is still a counterfeit even if it is spot on the 5 g it should weigh. (The nominal weight for French 19th century 1 francs is 5.00 g with a tolerance of 0.015 g - wear will take off more than that though.)

Yes, those are good questions about why you have not found the coin elsewhere, but the fact remains that the experts here have pointed out why this is not an error coin.
Here is a photo of a genuine 1852. In particular, it is easy to see that the lettering style is on the reverse of your coin is not correct.



It is not too hard to imagine that this item could have been a political joke related to a hypothetical union of France and England.

Contemporary French counterfeits are collectable. A good place to look at them is the archives of cgb.fr, searching using the word faux. I have an 1846 plated 2 franc, which I value at about $50.

Unfortunately I can't find anything that resembles your 1852 frang. Counterfeiters didn't make spelling errors, even when their work was crude. There are a lot of satirical French coins (including 1852 1F's with Louis Phillippe wearing a crown of thorns) but they are made using real coins. Sort of like American hobo nickels.

I hate to say it, but this looks like a modern fantasy piece.

This is the kind of difference a few of us are seeing. It can be easier to see with a side-by-side blow up.