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4 Francs, 60 Centimes, 1 Ounce French siege coinage
| Issuer | Zara, City of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1813 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| In circulation to | 7 December 1813 |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | A prominent incuse rectangular cartouche occupies the central field, subdivided horizontally into two registers. The upper register bears the abbreviation '1·O·' denoting one ounce, while the lower register displays the value '4F·60C·' indicating 4 Francs and 60 Centimes. The stark, utilitarian design is entirely devoid of ornamental detail, reflecting the emergency nature of this siege coinage struck at Zara during the Napoleonic Wars. |
| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
Zara — modern Zadar, on the Dalmatian coast — was besieged by British and Montenegrin forces in 1813 as Napoleon's Adriatic holdings collapsed. The city's French garrison, cut off from supply lines and running short of coin, melted down silver plate and church silver to strike emergency currency. The denomination itself, 4 francs and 60 centimes, was calculated to equal the value of one ounce of silver at the official French rate — a strictly utilitarian accounting decision that produced one of the most unusual denominations in European numismatics.
Only a handful of these are known to survive. The siege ended in November 1813 with French capitulation.