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5 Francs pattern of virole with modul of 5 francs by Moreau
| Issuer | Monnaie de Paris |
|---|---|
| Year | 1824 |
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| Currency | Franc (1795-1959) |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Three fleurs-de-lis arranged in a triangular formation occupy the central field, rendered in bold relief against a plain background. The devices are unframed and dominate the flan, conveying a heraldic simplicity characteristic of Restoration-era coinage proposals. A circular legend surrounds the design along the inner border, with an outer beaded rim encircling the entire composition. The lettering is incuse and evenly spaced, reading from the left upward and continuing across the top. |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | The reverse bears a presentation inscription arranged in six lines across the central field, with no additional decorative devices, conveying the official submission of this pattern piece to the General Administration of the Mints. The text identifies the presenter as Moreau, a monnayeur (coiner), and is rendered in bold capital letters with clean, even spacing typical of official essay submissions. An outer beaded rim frames the entire reverse, consistent with the obverse treatment. The plain field and formal typographic layout reflect the utilitarian character of this administrative proposal piece. |
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| Additional information |
This is an essai de virole — a trial striking to test the security edge-milling machinery rather than to propose a new design. The virole brisée (split collar) system, developed to imprint the edge lettering and milling simultaneously with the strike, was a persistent engineering challenge at the Paris Mint in the early nineteenth century. Moreau, as graveur général from 1816 to 1830, oversaw these mechanical trials. Plating bronze on a silver-weight flan allowed the mint to test collar tolerances without committing fine silver to what were, in essence, calibration exercises.