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5 Francs aluminium pattern
| Issuer | Monnaie de Paris |
|---|---|
| Year | 1871 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Round |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Central shield of France bearing three fleurs-de-lis arranged in the traditional Bourbon heraldic disposition, surmounted by a royal crown with visible arches and orb finial. The shield is flanked symmetrically by two crossed branches — an oak branch to the left and a laurel branch to the right — tied together at the base with a ribbon bow. The denomination numeral 5 appears to the left of the shield and the currency initial F to the right. The date 1871 is inscribed along the lower exergual area, flanked by the word ESSAI to the right, identifying the piece as a trial strike. A fine toothed border frames the entire design. |
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| Mint | Monnaie de Paris |
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| Additional information |
1871 was the worst possible year to be rethinking French coinage. The Commune had just burned parts of Paris, the indemnity owed to Prussia was catastrophically large, and the Third Republic was scrambling to establish basic institutional credibility. Aluminium patterns from this period reflect serious official interest in reducing the silver content of circulating coinage — a fiscal pressure, not an aesthetic one.
The Monnaie de Paris produced multiple metal trials during 1871–72 testing aluminium as a substitute for silver in the 5 franc denomination. None reached circulation.