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2 francs Louis Pasteur Essai nickel
| Issuer | Monnaie de Paris |
|---|---|
| Year | 1995 |
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| Reference(s) | KM#1119, Gad 1789#549, Schön#384, Galst/Alfen#IV.215, GEM#125.3, Franc 2014#274/1 |
| Obverse description | Right-facing portrait bust of Louis Pasteur engraved by P. Rodier, depicted in mature age with a short beard and formal attire, occupying the right portion of the field. To the left, a detailed rendering of a classical building facade — evoking the Institut Pasteur — is shown in relief. The arc legend RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE curves along the upper rim, with the birth year 1822 at lower left and death year 1895 at lower right flanking the central devices. The name LOUIS PASTEUR appears in relief along the lower field, and the word ESSAI is inscribed to the right of the portrait. The engraver's signature P. RODIER appears below the building. |
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| Reverse description | The large numeral '2' dominates the right-center of the field, with the denomination FRANCS inscribed below it and the date 1995 in the lower exergue. To the left, a stylized depiction of Pasteur's laboratory glassware — including a flask and retort — is shown in artistic low relief, referencing his scientific achievements. The Republican motto LIBERTÉ ÉGALITÉ FRATERNITÉ is distributed around the upper and lateral rim in three segments, separated by dots. The coin's decagonal inner edge creates a distinctive geometric frame for the design elements. |
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| Additional information |
This piece was struck to mark the centenary of Pasteur's death in 1895. The Monnaie de Paris produced it as an essai — a trial strike intended for archival and collector purposes rather than general release — which explains why circulation examples simply do not exist. Essais of this type were distributed in small, controlled quantities to official recipients and select dealers.
The GEM reference number places it firmly within the documented French essai coinage tradition, where such pieces carry full legal-tender status on paper but were never meant to pass through a single hand in commerce.