French Revolution - Lefevre 20 Sols

April 2024

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These, and the remaining Monnaies de Confiance series of emergency coinage, are difficult to find and expensive in top condition. This will have to do for the LEFEVRE LESSAGE ET COMPie Ngt A PARIS coin. This silver 20 Sols is the Type 2 (Reynaud 18b) with spaced obverse legend and Dot below. It shows the allegorical figure of "Freedom" sitting with a flag in her lap. The French Rooster sits on a column pedestal and they're looking at each other. A Fasces with spear and Liberty Cap appear behind an open book representing "The Rights of Man and the Citizen" (DROITS DE L'HOMME ANTIC V), specifically Article V. Article Five states: 'The law has the right to forbid only actions harmful to society. Anything which is not forbidden by the law cannot be impeded, and no one can be constrained to do what it does not order.' It therefore appears, that among the 17 Articles, Article 5 was a declaration of libertarian freedom that succinctly separated the new order from the authoritarian past. The French Revolution attempted to set up a constitutional system of laws clearly delineating the power of the government and the separation of church and state.
The reverse legend around is: 'ET AU DESSUS LAN 4 ME DE LA LIBERTE 1792' (date since Rev = 1792) and the inner legend is: 'B. P. 20 SOLS A ECHANGER EN ASSIGNATS DE 50#' which means (B.P. = Bon Pour) value of 20 Sols in exchange for 50 Assignats (nearly worthless paper money).