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AccueilContactInfo0 - Nouveautés 1 -  2 -  3 -  4 - Doc.  5 - Divers col.6 - LiensLes catalogues numismatiques :    |
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1- NUMISMATIQUE - MONNAIES - COINS
- French Numismatic -
The History of the FRANC
Translated by Michael E. Ontko, Vice President of the Greater Orange County Coin Club - U.S.A.
1- Introduction
After the introduction of the Euro, it is perhaps good to recall the origins of the FRANC as an old symbol of the French nation..
French Republic 1 franc - 1991 |  |
The history of the FRANC is divided into three parts coincident with the three great periods of troubles preceding the twentieth century: the Hundred Years' War, the Wars of Religion, and the French Revolution. Numismatic history is therefore tightly linked to the history of the country.
2- The medieval franc
We should go back to 1360 to see the first French coin bearing the name of FRANC. This period overlaps part of the Hundred Years' War that opposed from 1337 to 1453 the Valois dynasty and the English kings who claimed the throne of France.
On September 18, 1356, king John the Good was defeated with his army near Poitiers; he was made prisoner and led into captivity. His son, the Dauphin Charles, took the title of Regent and reestablished royal authority at Paris.
After a new landing at Calais by Edward III of England, a treaty of peace, prepared by the Regent at Bretigny, was signed on October 24, 1360, by the two kings. Edward III then renounced his pretensions to the throne of France and freed king John, in exchange for territory in the southwest of France and an enormous ransom of three million gold écus.
The return of the king from captivity restored confidence. With the ordinance of December 5, 1360, the coinage of silver and billon was strengthened. The act is very important since it also deals with the creation of a new gold coin called the "Franc d'or à cheval" (on horseback). It is the first FRANC of monetary history.
For the ransom, a first payment of 600,000 "écus d'or" of the type "Franc d'or à cheval" was issued, the payments were to be completed by annual installments of 400,000 écus d'or during six years. At the beginning of 1364, no longer able to pay the ransom, John the Good was surrendered to the English and he died April 6 that year.
His son, Charles V, denounced the Treaty of Bretigny in 1369 and reconquered a large part of the lands ceded to the English. He also struck the "Franc d'or à cheval".
In 1365, the latter was replaced by a new gold coin showing the king standing with a sword in his hand; this coin took the name of the "Franc d'or à pied" (on foot).
Charles VI continued the monetary system of his father, Charles V. It is impossible to differentiate the "Franc d'or à pied" of Charles V from those struck during the reign of Charles VI.
His son, Charles VII, had a new "Franc d'or à cheval" struck in 1422. With this coin ends the series of gold FRANCS.
2.1. The "Franc d'or à cheval"
On December 5, 1360, king John decreed the striking of gold pennies called "Franc d'or", of the face value of twenty sols tournois or one livre tournois. This coin weighed 3.877 grams and was struck to the standard of 63 pieces to the gold mark.
King Jean le Bon 1360 "Franc d'or à Cheval" |  |
In the context of continual conflict with England, and knowing that the coinage was destined to pay the king's ransom, the "Franc d'or à cheval" is full of symbolism.
First of all is the name: the word "FRANC" meant "free", the king returned from captivity is finally free, as he declared in the decree, "Now that we are free and liberated forever…."
Then there is the symbolism of the engraving: king John is shown galloping on horseback, sword in hand, ready to strike, as he had sworn not to lay down arms until he had retaken from the enemy the conquered lands.
The symbolism was certainly inspired by the gold "George" florin, struck in 1341, on which his father Philip of Valois was shown galloping on horseback and spearing with his lance the dragon of England.
King Charles V 1364 "Franc d'or à Cheval"
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This is a rare variety described but never before illustrated. A chain connects the sword to the armor of the king, the sheath of the sword hangs from the horse's dress.
2.2. The "Franc d'or à pied"
On April 20, 1365, it was decreed in the name of the king Charles V the manufacture of the new gold Francs known as "Francs d'or à pied" with the value of twenty sols tournois (one livre tournois). This coin, lighter than the "franc d'or à cheval", weighed 3.824 grams and was struck to the standard of 64 pieces to the gold mark.
King Charles V 1364 "Franc d'or à Pied" |  |
The king is shown in a less warlike fashion. He is standing, holding in his right hand a sword and in his left hand the hand of justice.
Charles V had these coins struck at three new mints: Limoges, Poitiers and La Rochelle. The mints are identified by the mint-marks used during the English occupation.
Charles V 1364 "Franc d'or à Pied" of La Rochelle |  |
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Charles VI, at the beginning of his reign, struck coins of the type "à pied" but they are indistinguishable from those of Charles V.
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One should note the numerous imitations of both types issued by neighboring princes (the count of Flanders, the count of Hainaut, the duke of Brabant, the duke of Brittany, the duke of Aquitaine, the count of Provence, etc.)
All these coins used the motto that first appeared on the gold coins of the crusading king Louis IX, "Christ Vincit-Christ Regnat-Christ Imperat"(Christ conquers, Christ rules, Christ commands).
3- The silver francs of the fifteenth century
This period, between 1575 and 1586, unfolded during the Wars of Religion (to the number of eight between 1560 and 1598) where Protestant opposed Catholic in a bloody civil war.
Henry III, with the ordinance of May 31, 1575, created a new silver coin with the value of 20 sols tournois (one livre tournois). The gold écu was set at 60 sols; this coin of 20 sols was struck in .833 fine silver with the weight of 14.188 grams.
Henri III 1583 Silver Franc of Toulouse |  |
This coin corresponded to the value of the medieval gold Franc, naturally, the coin took the name of "Franc d'argent" (silver franc).
The Franc equaled 1/3 écu, the half franc 1/6 écu and the quarter franc 1/12 écu.
Henry II of Navarre (the future Henry IV) also had them struck at his mints of Pau and St.-Palais.
Henri II de Navarre 1579 Silver Franc of Pau |  |
Due to constant clipping, the coinage of Francs was suspended for good on October 13, 1586, although mints held by the Catholic League continued after the death of the king ot strike Francs in his name.
Despite some patterns of Henry IV (1589-1610) and Louis XIII (1610-1643), the Franc was used only as a money of account; only half francs and quarter francs were struck until 1642.
4- The Germinal Franc
On April 7, 1795 (18 Germinal, l'an III de la République), the National Convention decreed the establishment of a decimal monetary system. This system was called the "Franc Germinal".
On August 15 (28 Thermidor, l'an III) a new decree fixed the size of the new coins. The unified denomination would be the Franc, composed of 100 centimes. Coins of 1, 2, 5 and 10 centimes, 1, 2 and 5 décimes were to be issued, as well as ¼, ½, 1, 2 and 5 franc coins. The decree also fixed the weight, diameter, composition and design of each coin.
Napoléon Bonaparte Pattern of the year 4 of the Consulate |  |
On October 20, 1799 (29 Vendémaire, l'an VII), another decree established the use of Francs in payments and accounts, and demonetized the royal coinages of copper, billon and bell metal. The old silver and gold coins were still permitted.
On May 6, 1799 (17 Florial, l'an VII), accounting in Francs was made obligatory.
Bonaparte, First Consul 1 franc An 12 W (Mint : Lilles) |  |
It was not until 1803 (year XI) that the first one Franc coins were issued, although lower value decimal coins were issued in 1796 (year IV).
5- The Franc in the world
Bonaparte, who became the emperor Napoleon, annexed or "protected" most of his neighbors (Geneva, Westphalia, north Italy, the Low Countries, etc.) and introduced the French system in each one, where the main coin became "Frang", "Franco", "Frank" or "Franc" as appropriate.
Félix and Elisa Bonaparte 1 franco - 1806 P. of Lucca and Piombino |  |
The need to unify monetary systems became the subject of an international convention, signed on December 23, 1865, by Belgium, France, Italy and Switzerland. This convention took the name of the Latin Union. In 1868, Greece signed the convention, which required each country to allow the free circulation of each others coins, provided that they were of the same weight and fineness (thus, one lire = one franc).
The influence of the Latin Union spread, and many non-signing countries issued coins that conformed to it : Albania, Austria, Hungary, Dominican Republic, etc.
Dominican Republic 1 franco 1891 A (Mint : Paris) |  |
Of course, the Belgian and French colonies were obliged to adopt the Franc: West Africa, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Cameroons, Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Togo, Martinique, Guadeloupe, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, etc.
Madagascar 1 franc - 1948 |  |
Although most of the former colonies are now independent, one still finds Francs in use there (Ivory Coast, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Cameroons, Guinea, etc.).
Malagasy Republic 1 franc - 1981 |  |
6- The countries that have submitted to the influence of the franc on the coins
6.1 As a result of the Napoleonic conquests
Germany : Kingdom of Westphalia, 1807-1813
Italy : Principality of Lucca and Piombino, 1805-1814,
Italy : Subalpine Republic (Piedmont Republic), 1800-1801
Dalmatia : City of Zara, 1813
Montenegro : City of Cattaro, 1813
Switzerland : Helvetian Republic, 1798-1801
Switzerland : Canton of Aargau, 1812
Switzerland : Canton of Appenzel, 1809-1816
Switzerland : Canton of Bern, 1811-1813
Switzerland : Canton of Freiburg, 1813
Switzerland : Canton of Graubunden, 1813
Switzerland : Canton of Luzern, 1804-1814
Switzerland : Canton of Neuchatel, 1814
Switzerland : Canton of Solothurn, 1812-1813
Switzerland : Canton of Ticino, 1813-1835
6.2 As a result of the French influence in the early 19th century
Belgium : after independence in 1830
Luxembourg : from 1854
Monaco : from 1837
Switzerland : Cantons of Geneva , 1848-1851
Switzerland : Cantons of Vaud, 1845
Switzerland : Confoederatio Helvetica after 1848
Ecuador, 1858
6.3 As a result of the Latin Union
Albania : 1926-1938
Austria-Hungary : Dual Monarchy, 1870-1892
Liechtenstein : until 1924 (used Swiss coins after that)
Sweden : 1868-1872
Danish West Indies : 1904-1907
Dominican Republic : 1891
6.4 As a result of the World War Two
Saarland (Germany): 1954-1955
6.5 As a result of the French colonization
Africa : Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Cameroons, Congo, Gabon, Chad, Djibouti, Madagascar, Comoros Is.
America : St. Pierre et Miquelon, Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guyana
Asia : Cambodia
Pacific: Tahiti, New Caledonia, New Hebrides
6.6 As a result of the Belgian colonization
Africa: Congo, Burundi, Rwanda
copyright - JLB - COLLECTIONNEUR
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