5 francs essai en étain par Farochon, premier concours, piéfort au triple

The first concours of 1848 was called by the newly proclaimed Second Republic to solicit designs for a definitive coinage — an open competition reflecting the republic's ideological break from Orléanist monarchy. Farochon was among roughly a dozen sculptors who submitted trial pieces. His entry did not win; the commission ultimately went to Barre.

Triple-weight piéforts of competition essais were produced in very small numbers, almost certainly for presentation or archival purposes within the Monnaie de Paris itself. Tin was chosen for trial strikings of this concours as a cost-effective medium that still captured die detail faithfully enough for committee evaluation.