Laurent writes:

Philippe Théret and Michel Taillard supported by the associations ADF (Friends of theFranc) and ADAN (Friends of Numismatic Authors) have worked to provide collectors andprofessionals with new tools to approach the fascinating field of French essays of the period1803 to 1870. That is to say from the creation of the Germinal Franc under NapoleonBonaparte to the fall of Napoleon III.

The field of essays is wide: coin design contest essays, design trials, splashers, trial strikes,patterns, branch mint trials, political propaganda essay strikes (Napoleon II, Henri V...),presentation strikes for dignitaries, proof strikes, restrikes for collectors, Mint Visit strikes(Paris mint and branch mints)...

A collection of six volumes (one per period) are in preparation since mid 2021.

The most important public institutions have collaborated in the realization of these works:

It is clear that public collections contributed very largely to the census to produce the variousworks. But it would nevertheless be simplistic to only take these sources into account. Thesecollections, as admirable as they are, do not have all the different essays. The catalogs of thedifferent sales over time have made it possible not only to refine this inventory but also toassess the frequencies of appearance, rarities, prices and their evolution.

In addition to these important contributions, 160,000 pages of archives have been digitizedover the past 20 years. This has allowed to better understand the essays and in many cases themanufacturing figures!

For this series of books, the structure of each book will remain the same: the first part will bededicated to the archives, a second part dedicated to the census catalog (with price quotes)and finally a third part, the Gallery, with full page photo plates.

The first volume covering the period of Napoleon I, from 1803 to 1815 was released innovember 2023 (see E-Sylum Volume 26, Number 48, November 26, 2023). The secondvolume covering the period of Louis XVIII, from 1814 to 1824 was released in june 2024 andthe third volume covering the period of Charles X, from 1824 to 1830 in november 2024(Editor : cgb.fr).

To order the standard versions:

https://www.cgbfr.com/le-franc-les-essais-les-archives-napoleon-ier-1803-1815-theret-philippe-taillard-michel,lf27,a.html

https://www.cgbfr.com/le-franc-les-essais-les-archives-louis-xviii-1814-1824-theret-philippe-taillard-michel,lf28,a.html

https://www.cgbfr.com/le-franc-les-essais-les-archives-charles-x-1824-1830-theret-philippe-taillard-michel,lf29,a.html

For more information about the content of the books or to order the deluxe versions, contact :essais@amisdufranc.orgAs Laurent Schmitt (President of ADAN) will be present at NYINC, he can bring copies ofdeluxe versions ordered in advance (before January 10th ) thereby avoiding shipping costs forbuyers who will collect the books at the convention.

Philippe Théret adds:

Laurent Schmitt writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
NEW BOOK: LE FRANC - NAPOLEON I(https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n48a04.html)
NEW BOOK: LE FRANC - CHARLES X(https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n29a07.html)