5 Francs - Napoleon III pattern of Barre

This is an essai by Jean-Jacques Barre, chief engraver at the Paris Mint from 1843 until his death in 1855 — which means this 1858 pattern was struck posthumously, either from his original dies or by his successor Désiré-Albert Barre, his son, who inherited both the post and his father's unfinished work. The elder Barre had prepared multiple competing designs for the Napoleonic coinage series, and the mint continued pulling trial strikes from his dies well after his death to evaluate options or satisfy collector demand.

The bronze composition and reduced weight against the standard silver issue confirm this was never intended for circulation.