Le Franc Les Essais, Les Archives - louis XVIII (1814-1824) - Edition 2024

Following the release of Le Franc, les Monnaies, les Archives (2019) and Le Franc d?Augustin Dupré (2021), discover Le Franc, les Essais, les Archives, a six-volume encyclopedia (2023?2027) that enriches and deepens our understanding of the history of the Franc from 1803 to 1870.

After the first volume dedicated to Napoleon I (1803?1815), the second volume, focused on Louis XVIII (1814?1824), is published to mark the bicentenary of the king's death on September 16.

Spanning 576 pages, this work utilizes both ?paper? and ?metal? archives to immerse the reader in the monetary history of the early Restoration period. The book stands out for its thoroughness, featuring a meticulous catalog listing 430 essais (compared to 112 for Guilloteau, 170 for Mazard, and 187 for Gadoury 2023), market-reflective valuations, high-definition imagery, and a gallery where coins and minting tools are showcased together. A must-have reference for all collectors and enthusiasts!

Philippe Théret and Michel Taillard, supported by the ADF (Amis du Franc) and ADAN (Amis des Auteurs Numismates) associations, have undertaken this project to provide collectors and professionals with valuable tools to explore the fascinating field of essais (trial coins) from 1803 to 1870, from the creation of the Franc Germinal under Napoleon Bonaparte to the fall of Napoleon III.

The scope of these essais is wide, covering:

• Competition strikes
• Type trials
• Technical tests
• Engraver?s design proofs
• Die test strikes before they are sent to the mints
• Political propaganda strikes (e.g., Napoleon II, Henri V)
• Prestige issues for dignitaries
• Burnished flan strikes
• Apocryphal collector?s strikes
• Visitor souvenir coins from the Paris Mint or provincial mints

The six-volume collection, each covering a specific historical period, has been in development since mid-2021.

The most prestigious public institutions have contributed to the creation of these works:

• The Monnaie de Paris allowed access to its coin cabinets (4,500 photos taken), as well as the restricted ?red zone? of the Pessac mint factory, where minting tools are stored (12,000 photos taken);
• The BnF (Bibliothèque nationale de France) provided access to its 19th-century collections for study and photography (5,000 photos taken);
• The Musée Carnavalet, with its invaluable numismatic collection (2,500 photos taken);
• The Cabinet des Médailles of the Royal Library of Belgium, the Banque de France, and others have also contributed.

While public collections have played a significant role in the cataloging process, they do not cover all known essais. Auction catalogs, over the years, have helped refine the catalog, identifying the frequency of appearance, rarity, pricing, and market trends.

In addition to these crucial contributions, 160,000 digitized archive pages gathered over the past 20 years have been examined, providing a deeper understanding of many essais and, in some cases, manufacturing figures.

Each volume in the collection follows the same structure:

1. Archives section: contextual analysis
2. Catalog section: detailed listings with valuations
3. Gallery section: full-page, high-resolution photos

The Gallery section has been designed for visual enjoyment. It offers enlarged views (thanks to the 24x16 cm format) of rare or exceptional essais, showcasing minting tools as well. Collectors of circulating coins, who may be less focused on trial pieces, will also find interest in the plates dedicated to burnished flan strikes. This is an opportunity to appreciate engraving details of circulating coins that most collectors have never had the chance to see.