France 1833 Henri V Pattern 1/2 Franc
Offered is an ‘pattern’ 1/2 Franc issued as part of Henri V’s pretender coinage, with this particular type issued in 1833 as a commemorative hailing his 13th birthday (age of majority in French Royal succession), Collignon#1060, Gadoury#405. Henri V, heir to the Bourbon dynasty, was at this time exiled in England, but his mother had ambitions to re-install the young Count on the French throne. An attempt was made in 1832 to begin an insurrection in the west of France, but this failed to materialize. In 1870 (following the collapse of the Empire of Napoleon III), Henri was offered the throne (he was at this point living in Prague), but refused as he disliked the French ‘Tricolor,’ insisting that he would only reign if the Royal French ‘Fleurdelise’ was reinstituted.
The Bourbons maintained a small private army, and struck coinage over the course of several years with which to pay them / legitimize Henri. This piece, struck in bronze, was distributed more as a medallet, but has entered into the historiography of this interesting series as a pattern owing to the fact that it was also struck in silver to the specifications of a French 1/2f. A fascinating piece of French history.
Offered is an ‘pattern’ 1/2 Franc issued as part of Henri V’s pretender coinage, with this particular type issued in 1833 as a commemorative hailing his 13th birthday (age of majority in French Royal succession), Collignon#1060, Gadoury#405. Henri V, heir to the Bourbon dynasty, was at this time exiled in England, but his mother had ambitions to re-install the young Count on the French throne. An attempt was made in 1832 to begin an insurrection in the west of France, but this failed to materialize. In 1870 (following the collapse of the Empire of Napoleon III), Henri was offered the throne (he was at this point living in Prague), but refused as he disliked the French ‘Tricolor,’ insisting that he would only reign if the Royal French ‘Fleurdelise’ was reinstituted.
The Bourbons maintained a small private army, and struck coinage over the course of several years with which to pay them / legitimize Henri. This piece, struck in bronze, was distributed more as a medallet, but has entered into the historiography of this interesting series as a pattern owing to the fact that it was also struck in silver to the specifications of a French 1/2f. A fascinating piece of French history.
Offered is an ‘pattern’ 1/2 Franc issued as part of Henri V’s pretender coinage, with this particular type issued in 1833 as a commemorative hailing his 13th birthday (age of majority in French Royal succession), Collignon#1060, Gadoury#405. Henri V, heir to the Bourbon dynasty, was at this time exiled in England, but his mother had ambitions to re-install the young Count on the French throne. An attempt was made in 1832 to begin an insurrection in the west of France, but this failed to materialize. In 1870 (following the collapse of the Empire of Napoleon III), Henri was offered the throne (he was at this point living in Prague), but refused as he disliked the French ‘Tricolor,’ insisting that he would only reign if the Royal French ‘Fleurdelise’ was reinstituted.
The Bourbons maintained a small private army, and struck coinage over the course of several years with which to pay them / legitimize Henri. This piece, struck in bronze, was distributed more as a medallet, but has entered into the historiography of this interesting series as a pattern owing to the fact that it was also struck in silver to the specifications of a French 1/2f. A fascinating piece of French history.