Moneta
Registered: August 2005
Location: Arizona USA
Posts: 2,365
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The Parisian company of 'Lefevre, Lesage and Company' doesn't have a lot of definitive history available. The KM SCWC catalog indicates 3 types, but more detailed French works indicate that there are 5 varieties of the 5 Sols. The company issued 5, 10, & 20 Sol denominations. Among the 'Trusted Money' of the French Revolution these issues are unusual because they were struck in silver. Obverse theme is a pair of crossed cornucopia with a spear topped by a Liberty Cap thru the center.
The designer and manufacturer are unknown and there is some speculation as to which LeSage was involved. A Jacques-Guillaume LeSage was a commissioner to the king for monetary control, so that's one possibility. These coins were struck in the spring of 1792 and by decrees of the city of Paris and the central government (June & September 1792) they were demonetized, confiscated, and the factory closed. These were also distributed and used in Nimes where there was a factory branch.
It's unusual to find these with the value clearly rendered in the strike. After searching for various silver issues of the Revolution I can say it is quite common to see them with unusual dark spots, and evidence that someone has tried to remove them.
Obverse legend: LEFEVRE LESAGE ET COMPie Ngt A PARIS.
Reverse legend around: ET AU DESSUS LAN 4 ME DE LA LIBERTE 1792
Reverse center: B.P. (Bon Pour - value) 5 SOLS A ECHANGER EN ASSIGNATS DE 50#
The varieties are described in "MONNAIES DE CONFIANCE" by Reynaud (2nd ed. 2016) put this coin as the type with small '5' before SOLS & coin rotation. REYNAUD #16 c (KM Tn16).
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