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5 Francs Union et Force, UNION untight, with outer acorn only
| Issuer | French Republic |
|---|---|
| Year | 1796-1799 |
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| Shape | Round |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | The obverse presents a central allegorical group in the neoclassical tradition, depicting Hercules standing full-length in the center, bare-chested and muscular, flanked by two female personifications of Liberty and Equality. The three figures are shown joining hands, symbolizing the revolutionary motto of union and strength. Liberty to the left holds a pike surmounted by a Phrygian cap, while Equality to the right holds a balance scale. The legend 'UNION ET FORCE' arches across the upper field, and the engraver's signature 'Dupré' appears in the lower exergue, all within a finely dentilated border. |
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| Additional information |
The "Union et Force" 5 francs type emerged directly from the Monetary Law of 28 Thermidor Year III (1795), which established the franc as France's decimal currency and fixed the silver 5-franc piece as its cornerstone. The Directory-era dies were produced under chaotic conditions across multiple mints simultaneously, giving rise to a documented family of varieties distinguished by the spacing of the word UNION and the placement of acorns in the exergue — differences that reflect inconsistent punch-cutting between engravers at different facilities rather than any deliberate design change.
The "UNION untight, outer acorn only" designation in Gadoury's reference pinpoints this as one of the scarcer positional variants within F#295.