W. C a r e w H a z l i t t Coinage of the European Continent

Descriptive Oittline of the Coinages of Europe 479
The first
impulse of the democracy was to disturb the
regal system only in the form of external accessories and
artificial or inflated values at critical moments. The livre,
the sol, and the denier remained the monetary bases for a
short term ;
but the centime and franc eventually superseded
them. We find among the earliest monuments of the
Republic
30 sols in silver with head of Louis XVI. . .
1791
15 sols in silver with head of Louis XVI.
.... . .
1791
cu and demi-ecu with head of Louis XVI. .
1791
5 sols by Monnier 1791-92
2 sols by Monnier 1791-92
.-. Of various types. One of 1792 reads : Revolution Fran^atse.
5 sols in silver ieby
Lefevre and C
2 sols 6 deniers with a helmeted head of Liberty
.
1791
Dixain (prototype of Decime) in bell metal 1791
. .
And in the second period
:
|
.
24 livres in gold, 6 1 livres in silver . .
1793
5
..... decimes in copper (Regeneration Fran^aise) '793
i and 2 sols in copper of two or three varieties 1793
Decime
5 centimes . . . . . 1'an 3-4
i centime . . . .
)
In the 3rd and 4th years (1795-96) the Government had
recourse to various expedients importing financial embarrassment.
A i o centimes was first
put forth as legal tender for
ten times its metallic value. In year 4 the decime was
made to pass current for two decimes, the 5 centimes for a
decime ;
and a piece actually representing the moiety was
struck as a token for 5 centimes. The dilemma may be
supposed to have been of short duration, as matters returned
to their normal state in year 5. There are two historical
relics before us, recalling this crisis, in the shape of a
5 centimes countermarked decime, and of a second of year
4 reading decime.
The 24 livres of 1793 was the sole effort of the Republic
in that metal ;
and in lieu of the 6 livres it decided
1
Blanchet (Manuel, i. 168) cites the 3 livres, which we have not seen.