W. C a r e w H a z l i t t Coinage of the European Continent

482 The Coins of Europe
coinage of the most powerful State in the World to the
system which his 1
genius had created.
The later numismatic annals 2 concern (i) the money
struck on behalf of the two pretenders, Napoldon II. and
Henry V. ; (2) the project for a revival of the copper coinage
for the colonies in 1824 and for internal circulation in
1840; and (3) the second Napoleonic regime (1851-70),
succeeded by the existing Third Republic. In the name of
the King of Rome or Duke of Reichstadt, who died unmarried
in 1832, were struck 5, 2, and I francs in silver,
and 10, 5, 3, and I centimes in copper, all dated 1816, and
generally found in proof state ;
the dies are believed to exist.
In that of Henry V., better known as the late Comte de
Chambord, his mother, the Duchesse de Berri, issued 5, 2,
and i
francs, ascribed to the London mint, a ^ franc said
to have proceeded from a private press in the Faubourg St.
Honore, a ^ franc and a small copper piece, which may be a
jeton, having on reverse Dieu Fa donnt^ 29 Septembre i&JJ.
The dies for the larger denominations are extant; they completely
differ from the three used for the others. The series
ranges between 1831 and 1833, and is almost unexceptionally
unused. The 5 franc occurs both of 1831 and 1832.
The scheme for renewing the copper currency was
immediately in connection with the colonies, and had no
reference to the employment of such a medium at home. In
1824, shortly prior to the demise of Louis XVIII., some
very handsome designs were prepared for a lo-centimes and
a 5 -centimes piece, but were not adopted. They bore the
usual titles and portrait, and a crowned monogram on reverse
with Colonies Fran^aises and the date. The plan was carried
into effect by Charles X. but the ;
type and fabric were quite
different.
1
The latest examples of this reign are the 5 francs and 2 francs of 1815
from different dies, the latter by far the rarer.
2 It may be worth mentioning in a note that the first coinage of Louis
XVIII., 1814, is much rarer than those in and after 1815. It consists of 5 francs
in silver and 20 francs in gold, and of the former there are two issues or at least
mint-marks. It has been said that a 6-livres piece on the old model exists, with
the date 1795 and the legend Louis XVIII. Roi des Franfais ; but the statement
is very problematical.