French Revolution - 1792 - Museum Gallery

This token 2 Sols was minted in Birmingham England. Late in 1791 Matthew Boulton, utilizing his newly invented steam driven coin presses, was commissioned by the Monneron Brothers of Paris France to produce 1, 2 and 5 Sols pieces in great quantity at his Soho Mint near Birmingham. According to various sources, the total weight of tokens produced was in excess of 70 tons. These 'monnaies de necessity' were to be used to remedy the lack of specie which plagued France during the early revolutionary years. The technical and aesthetic quality of the tokens was far superior to the bronze coins of the time. Late in 1790 Boulton and Watt had achieved the use of automated collared die strikes (Anglesey, Parys Mine, Druid Tokens, England).
Obverse: Gallic Liberty seated holding staff surmounted by a Liberty cap. She rests against a tablet and column pedestal with a rooster atop. Tablet reads "DROITS DE L'HOMME ARTIC. V" ("The Rights of Man, Article V"). Legend reads "LIBERTE SOUS LA LOI" ("Liberty Under the Law"). In exergue the Revolutionary date of "L'AN IV DE LA LIBERTE".
Reverse: "REVOLUTION FRANCAISE 1792". The central legend is "MEDAILLE QUI SE VEND DEUX SOLS A PARIS CHEZ MONNERON PATENTE." The edge inscription is : "LA CONFIANCE. AUGMENTE. LA VALUER oooooooo" (touching). This is a variety of Mazard No. 157 that does have parentheses around |PATENTE| and is the light flan (14 - 15g; here 14.17g) and is Reynaud Ref. # 7c. Heavy types are flan is 15 - 16g.
Note: this is the 1792 issue, the 1792 design has "REVOLUTION FRANCAISE" on the reverse.

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Here is the link to the BEST article on Matthew Boulton, the Industrialization of Coinage, and the Monneron Brother's wonderful token coinage during the French Revolution:
Boulton and the Monnerons - Margolis: [ link ]