Monneron Freres 1792 5 sols Hercules

from the Mountain Groan Collection

from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale, lot 43147

from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale, lot 43150

from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale, lot 43151

This specimen is a bronze five sols token issued for the merchants Monneron Freres in Paris, France, in 1792, the year of the Terror. These were made at the Soho Mint in Birmingham, England, whose steam presses were the only ones capable of striking such large copper coins. It is believed that the Soho mint restruck these long after the Revolution was over for sale as souvenirs. It is not known if this specimen is from 1792 or later but it has seen circulation. The second specimen was lot 43147 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $2,040. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE. Constitution. Bronze 5 Sols Token, Year IV/1792. Birmingham (Soho) Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-65 Brown. Variety without dash after "VEND" and with recut "E" in "MONNERON". Lettered edge. By A. Dupré for the Monneron Brothers. Given a pedigree that may well lead back to 1793, this stunning specimen striking is a resounding and unrivaled Gem, glistening with enchanting brilliance and glossy brown surfaces upon each side. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Format [Birmingham] at COINEX in London on 24 September 1992). Purportedly sold to Samuel Birchall, 1 July 1793."

The third specimen was lot 43150 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $3,600. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE. Constitution. Silver 5 Sols Token Essai (Pattern), Year IV/1792. Birmingham (Soho) Mint. PCGS AU-58. Lettered edge. By A. Dupré for the Monneron Brothers. An EXTREME RARITY in silver, this enchanting example displays some lightly scattered marks and breaks to the luster, accounting for the overall grade, but nevertheless retains an elegant appearance, all with some darker areas of toning nearer the peripheries. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Sabine Bourgey on 8 October 2002)."

This specimen was lot 43151 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $4,080. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE. Constitution. Gilt Bronze 5 Sols Token Essai (Pattern), Year IV/1792. Birmingham (Soho) Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-63. cf. Maz-166 (FRANÇAISE & lettered edge). FRANCAISE variety. Plain edge. By A. Dupré for the Monneron Brothers. An EXTREMELY RARE and provocative issue, this gilt specimen radiates with a glistening and fully brilliant surface quality, with an enchanting gilt nature. No doubt one of finest, if not the finest, representative of the type extant. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Jean Vinchon in Paris on 13 February 1989)."

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: bronze, the second specimen 28.16 g. The third specimen silver, 31.18 g. The fourth specimen gilt bronze, 31.59 g.

Catalog reference: KM Tn34 or Tn35. The second specimen Maz-163 (R1), the third specimen Maz-165 (R3).

Source:

Ciani, Louis, Les Monnaies Royales Françaises de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI, avec indication de leur valuer actuelle, Paris, 1926 (reprinted in Barcelona, 1965).
Guilloteau, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, Colonies 1670-1942 et Metropole 1774-1942, Versailles, 1942.
Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
^[1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2024 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Emilio M. Ortiz Collection, The Richard Margolis Collection and The Rutherford

Link to:

Monneron Freres 1792 5 sols Hercules

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