l'Union Latine

[davidrj]

I collect pennies and similar coins from around the world

The 30mm french bronze 10 centimes series which began 1853 was the model for the GB bronze pennies from 1860, plus a plethora of similar coins around the world who were signatories (or associates of) l'Union Latine . This was an attempt to standardise both gold and silver coins so that they would be interchangeable for trade across borders (a 19th Century version of the Euro). Many had a short lived attempt at standardising bronze also

Britain and Germany did not join

Interesting article here with photos of coins and unadopted patterns

Surprised to see a single coin illustrated for the UK - a silver I franc piece

For a better view, got to the link, click on the thumbnail, then click on larger thumbnail (couldn't capture a bigger picture) not my area of interest, but does anyone know anything about it? how many were minted

A full article on L'union Latine can the found on wikipedia

Edited December 29, 2011 by davidrj

[davidrj]

sorry duplicate post

Edited December 29, 2011 by davidrj

[Rob]

It is on my wants list as a Hobson's Choice piece and is not displeasing to my eyes.

It is ESC1476 which Rayner gave as R3. They trickle through occasionally and I would guesstimate there are probably somewhere between 10 and 20 out there, which in Rayner-speak is R4. A lot of patterns are given as R3 or R2, but the numbers appearing down the years would suggest they are rarer than that.

[davidrj]

It is on my wants list as a Hobson's Choice piece and is not displeasing to my eyes.

It is ESC1476 which Rayner gave as R3. They trickle through occasionally and I would guesstimate there are probably somewhere between 10 and 20 out there, which in Rayner-speak is R4. A lot of patterns are given as R3 or R2, but the numbers appearing down the years would suggest they are rarer than that.

Thanks Rob, was this a private pattern, or one by the royal mint in anticipation of the move to a decimal currency?

I can imagine the outrage of the likes of the Daily Mail if the RM were now to mint a coin bearing the word EURO or FRANC

David

[Rob]

It is on my wants list as a Hobson's Choice piece and is not displeasing to my eyes.

It is ESC1476 which Rayner gave as R3. They trickle through occasionally and I would guesstimate there are probably somewhere between 10 and 20 out there, which in Rayner-speak is R4. A lot of patterns are given as R3 or R2, but the numbers appearing down the years would suggest they are rarer than that.

Thanks Rob, was this a private pattern, or one by the royal mint in anticipation of the move to a decimal currency?

I can imagine the outrage of the likes of the Daily Mail if the RM were now to mint a coin bearing the word EURO or FRANC

David

It was an RM pattern by L C Wyon. Hocking lists two pieces in the RM museum collection (nos. 2300 & 2301). I suspect there may have been lip service only to decimalisation by this point in time as the lobbying for decimalisation was greater in the 1840s and 50s. There was definitely an attempt to create an international coinage however, as the RM also made a 1 Ducat/100 pence piece dated 1867 and a Double Florin/5 Francs International with both plain and milled edges in 1868 - these three pieces were in gold. These two designs are also Hobson's Choice pieces.

Edited December 29, 2011 by Rob

[scott]

ahh i love those big french centimes, but there was a slight size differance. so that never worked lol

but that coin is cool

[numismatist]

Very nice and interesting coin. Been looking at my ESC for 40 years and never ever noticed it.

Great posting by davidrj, with superb crisp photos in that listing.