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The obverse side of the écu d'or of Charles VI, king of France.

Écu, Obverse

The obverse side of the écu d'or of Charles VI, king of France.

The reverse side of the écu d'or of Charles VI, king of France.

Écu, Reverse

The reverse side of the écu d'or of Charles VI, king of France.

A poster with facts and images of France from the Consulate to the World War.

Consulate to the World War

A poster with facts and images of France from the Consulate to the World War.

"A French silver coin and money of account which since 1795 has formed the unit of French monetary system." -Whitney, 1911

Obverse Side of Silver Franc of Henry III

"A French silver coin and money of account which since 1795 has formed the unit of French monetary system."…

"A French silver coin and money of account which since 1795 has formed the unit of French monetary system." -Whitney, 1911

Reverse Side of Silver Franc of Henry III

"A French silver coin and money of account which since 1795 has formed the unit of French monetary system."…

"Under Louis XV, and Louis XVI, the sou was struck in copper, and had an intrinsic value of two deniers twelve grains, though retaining the conventional value of twelve deniers, and this coinage continued until the adoption of the existing decimal system in 1793." &mdash;Whitney, 1889 <p>This illustration shows the obverse of the coin, on which is illustrated a proclamation, a bunch of grapes, and a sheaf of wheat.

French Sou from 1793, Obverse

"Under Louis XV, and Louis XVI, the sou was struck in copper, and had an intrinsic value of two deniers…

"Under Louis XV, and Louis XVI, the sou was struck in copper, and had an intrinsic value of two deniers twelve grains, though retaining the conventional value of twelve deniers, and this coinage continued until the adoption of the existing decimal system in 1793." &mdash;Whitney, 1889 <p>This illustration shows the reverse of the coin, on which is displayed an oak wreath with a scale.

French Sou from 1793, Reverse

"Under Louis XV, and Louis XVI, the sou was struck in copper, and had an intrinsic value of two deniers…

"Gros Tournois of Louis IX. GROS. A coin of relatively large size: applied to silver coins of various kinds in France in the thirteenth and following centuries." -Whitney, 1911

Obverse Side of Gros Tornois

"Gros Tournois of Louis IX. GROS. A coin of relatively large size: applied to silver coins of various…

"Gros Tournois of Louis IX. GROS. A coin of relatively large size: applied to silver coins of various kinds in France in the thirteenth and following centuries." -Whitney, 1911

Reverse Side of Gros Tornois

"Gros Tournois of Louis IX. GROS. A coin of relatively large size: applied to silver coins of various…