FRANCE. Constitution. Bell Metal 5 Sols, ND (ca. 1791). PCGS AU-58. Maz-210 (R4). Rough plain edge. Diameter: 28.1mm; Weight: 18.85 gms. An strongEXTREMELY RARE/strong and uncertain type, this specimen features a rather spartan design, with a sword surmounted by a Phrygian cap that separates an S-V. Meanwhile, the other side displays a simple shield with three fleurs de lis. About this type, Margolis writes that "em...the background of this piece, which seems of the period, is unlikely to ever be discovered, unless an obscure contemporary reference to it surfaces. Hennin, who might have been expected to unearth its background and/or purpose, states, Lexplication et la destination de cette pièce nont pas pu être découvertés. His dating it to 1791 seems entirely appropriate, as the fleur de lis motif is quite unlikely to have been employed later. Rondot lists this piece immediately after the Lyon obsidional series; its purpose, if not its specific origin, may be related to them. He posits, Faut-il voir dans cette pièce un essai fait par un graveur royaliste et dans les lettres S V les initiales de son prénom et de son nom? His statement that the Fabre collection contained two examples, one struck and the other cast, requires confirmation; I believe that despite the fact that Marc Fabre put together the greatest collection of revolutionary coins and essays of his era (subsequently sold intact to Ferrari), and would be expected to know the difference between a struck and a cast piece, it seems likely that only cast examples exist. Ciani suggests that the letters S V could stand for sous cinq./em" From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from the Farouk Collection in March 1954).pEx: Palace Collections of Egypt [King Farouk] (Sothebys - 3/1954) Lot # 2173 (part of).pEx: Virgil M. Brand Collection (as "Ferrari-Brand," Schulman - ca. 1932) #3067.pEx: Baron Phillipe de Ferrari la Renotière Collection.
*拍品信息由各家拍卖公司提供，首席数据中心刊载出于传递更多信息之目的，并不意味着赞同其观点或证实其描述。
