Jester's Challenge #160

1jester

Welcome to Jester's Challenge, an interactive history lesson.

Inspired by many others here on the Darkside forum, I'd like to present what I hope will turn into a great learning experience for all of us. Many members on this World and Ancient Coin Forum have done a formidable job of sharing with us many fascinating and historically important coins. Since looking at coins is also one of my greatest pleasures, I'd like to try to follow in that time-honored tradition and submit for your pleasure and entertainment some world coins I've come across in my short lifetime.

I will pick out a coin on a regular basis, and post it along with the challenge to you to name the coin, its provenance, denomination, metallic content, mintage, any distinguishing characteristics or noteworthy features, and its value. The more information, the better. I'd like as many people as possible to participate, regardless of how little knowledge you might have on the subject. I appreciate comments on every aspect of the coin, including its history, or its role in human history, or info on similar coins in its series, etc. I myself don't presume to know 1/1000 of what you collectively know, hence my challenge to all of you to share your knowledge with the rest of us. Hopefully this exercise will encourage thought, discussion, and most importantly, more friendship.

Thanks for your participation!!!

Here is the one hundred sixtieth selection:

laurentyvan

Ah, the hercules obverse, first used on the French 5 franc in l'an 10 and used to this day on the French 5 franc, 10 franc, and 50 franc pieces. A VF example from the first issue is available at approx. $150 or less but an EF will run $400 to $500 dollars.

elverno

A little further back than l'an 10 Laurent. At least part of the design...



Cool design.

1jester

Elverno---NEAT!!!

a2labmom

Wow! What beautiful coins!

laurentyvan

Thanks elverno-everytime I think I got my $hit together I realize otherwise-that'll teach me to open up the booK!

Bruce

Very nice coins!

elverno

I was playing with the Republican calendar the other day (I always forget when it starts) and ran across the 5 franc piece on my site. Just dumb luck... This is my favorite site for French coins. Nothing for sale but the Ideale Collection is really worth a visit...