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Early American Circulating Foreign Coins
France
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Many types of French coins circulated in the new world and are mentioned in colonial almanacs.
The French Louis d'Or gold coin was minted from 1640 to 1793.
The Louis d'Or was sometimes called the "French guinea" after the British coin.
Later France converted to the franc monetary system and made 20 franc gold coins.
French silver coins known as "ecus" circulated, they were sometimes called "French crowns."
Later French 5 franc silver coins circulated.
France gold coins:
1. France Louis d'Or Louis XVI 1786
Gold, 24 mm, 7.64 gm
Obverse:
Louis XVI facing left
LUD XVI D.G. FR ET NAV REX
DUVIV (Engraver B. Duvivier) at base of head
At bottom mint privy mark of heron
Reverse:
Crown over shields of France and Navarre
CHRS REGN VINC IMPER 1786
At left mint privy mark of lyre after the "IMPER"
At bottom mint mark 'A' (Paris)
Louis XVI facing left
LUD XVI D.G. FR ET NAV REX
DUVIV (Engraver B. Duvivier) at base of head
At bottom mint privy mark of heron
Crown over shields of France and Navarre
CHRS REGN VINC IMPER 1786
At left mint privy mark of lyre after the "IMPER"
At bottom mint mark 'A' (Paris)
The legends mean:
LUD XVI D.G. FR ET NAV REX
Ludovicus XVI, Dei Gratia, Franciae et Navarrae Rex
(Louis XVI, by the Grace of God, King of France and Navarre)
Navarre was a kingdom split between Spain and France at the time.
CHRS REGN VINC IMPER
Christus regnat, vincit, imperat (Christ reigns, conquers, governs)
Ludovicus XVI, Dei Gratia, Franciae et Navarrae Rex
(Louis XVI, by the Grace of God, King of France and Navarre)
Navarre was a kingdom split between Spain and France at the time.
Christus regnat, vincit, imperat (Christ reigns, conquers, governs)
2. France Double Louis d'Or Louis XVI 1786
Gold, 28 mm, 15.24 gm
The obverse and reverse are the same as the regular Louis d'Or above.
3. France 20 francs 1810 - Napoleon
Gold, 21 mm, 6.39 gm
Obverse:
Napoleon facing left
NAPOLEON EMPEREUR
At bottom cursive "Tr." (engraver Pierre-Joseph Tiolier)
Reverse:
Laurel wreath
EMPIRE FRANCAIS
20 FRANCS
1810
At bottom mint privy mark of cadecus and mint mark 'W' (Lille)
Napoleon facing left
NAPOLEON EMPEREUR
At bottom cursive "Tr." (engraver Pierre-Joseph Tiolier)
Laurel wreath
EMPIRE FRANCAIS
20 FRANCS
1810
At bottom mint privy mark of cadecus and mint mark 'W' (Lille)
Edge: DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE
France silver coins:
4. France Ecu 1772-L - Louis XV
Silver, 41 mm, 28.15 gm
Obverse:
Louis XV facing left
LUD XV DG FR - ET NAV REX
Reverse:
Crowned shield of France in wreath
SIT NOMEN DOMINI BENEDICTUM 1772
Mint mark 'L' (Bayonne) at bottom (hard to read)
Louis XV facing left
LUD XV DG FR - ET NAV REX
Crowned shield of France in wreath
SIT NOMEN DOMINI BENEDICTUM 1772
Mint mark 'L' (Bayonne) at bottom (hard to read)
Edge: DOMINE SALVUM FAC REGEM
5. France Ecu 1784-A - Louis XVI
Silver, 41 mm, 29.10 gm
Obverse:
Louis XVI facing left
LUD XVI DG FR - ET NAV REX
Reverse:
Crowned shield of France in wreath
SIT NOMEN DOMINI BENEDICTUM 1784
Mint mark 'A' (Paris) at bottom
Louis XVI facing left
LUD XVI DG FR - ET NAV REX
Crowned shield of France in wreath
SIT NOMEN DOMINI BENEDICTUM 1784
Mint mark 'A' (Paris) at bottom
Edge: DOMINE SALVUM FAC REGEM
6. France 5 Francs 1812-K - Napoleon
Silver, 37 mm, 24.43 gm
Obverse:
Napoleon Bonaparte facing right.
NAPOLEON EMPEREUR
Louis XV facing left
Reverse:
EMPIRE FRANÇAIS
5 FRANCS 1812
Mint mark 'K' (Bayonne) at bottom
Napoleon Bonaparte facing right.
NAPOLEON EMPEREUR
Louis XV facing left
EMPIRE FRANÇAIS
5 FRANCS 1812
Mint mark 'K' (Bayonne) at bottom
Edge: DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE
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