France 1793-H 2 sols

Jean Elsen sale 147, lot 1629

This specimen was lot 1629 in Jean Elsen sale 147 (Brussels, June 2021), where it sold for €120 (about US$175 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Convention (1792-1795), Métal de cloche 2 sols à la balance, 1793H, La Rochelle. D/ Table de la Loi entre une grappe et des épis. R/ Valeur dans une couronne et sous une balance portant le bonnet de la Liberté. Défauts de flan sur la tranche. Très Beau. (republic of France, Convention, 1792-95, bell metal double sol of the balance of 1793, La Rochelle mint. Obverse: the table of the law between a bunch of grapes and a blade of wheat; reverse: crowned value under a balance with a liberty cap. Edge defects, Very Fine.)"

This coin was minted at La Rochelle during the throes of the Revolution. 1793 was the year the king was tried and executed. Amid the chaos, large quantities of these copper two sols were issued, along with six and twelve deniers (¼ and ½ sols). The 1791-93 issues bear the bust of the king but his ouster forced the removal of his portrait. The obverse shows the tablet of the law with the motto, "LES HOMMES SONT EGAUX DEVANT LA LOI," (all men are equal before the law) and the reverse shows the balance scales of justice. This type was hurriedly and crudely made and is rarely found better than VG.

Recorded mintage: unknown but a somewhat better date.

Specification: 17-18 g, 32-34 mm diameter, metal du cloche (bronze or brass); this specimen 24,41 g.

Catalog reference: KM 621.4, Gad-31.

Source:

• Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
• Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
• Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
• ^[1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 147: Monnaies, Médailles et Décorations, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2021.

Link to:

• 1793-A 12 deniers
• 1793-R 12 deniers
• 1793-W 12 deniers
• 1793-A sol au balance
• 1793-BB sol "au balance"
• France (1793) 2 sols pattern
• 1793-B double sol à la balance
• France 1793 5 sols Brézin's pattern
• 1793-BB 30 sols, "FRANÇAIS"
• 1793-I 30 sols
• 1793-Q 30 sols
• 1793-A demi-écu constitutionnel
• France 1793 3 livres, pattern
• 1793-A écu constitutionnel
• 1793-AA écu constitutionnel
• 1793-B écu constitutionnel
• 1793-BB écu constitutionnel
• 1793-D écu constitutionnel
• 1793-I écu constitutionnel
• 1793-K écu constitutionnel
• 1793-L écu constitutionnel
• 1793-M écu constitutionnel
• 1793-N écu constitutionnel
• 1793-R écu constitutionnel
• 1793-A 6 livres
• 1793-AA 6 livres
• 1793-BB 6 livres
• 1793-L 6 livres
• 1793-MA 6 livres
• 1793-N 6 livres
• 1793-T 6 livres
• 1793-W 6 livres
• 1793-A 24 livres
• 1793-A louis d'or constitutionnel
• 1793-W 24 livres
• France L'AN 2-A centime, pattern
• France L'AN 2-A 5 decimes, pattern, statue of Isis
• Coins and currency dated 1793
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)