France - 1793

Death of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

(Middlesex, National Series, D&H 995a)
Obverse - France - 1793 Reverse - France - 1793
Obverse - Conjoined busts of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, right.
Legend, LOUIS . XVI ET M . ANTOINETTE . ROI ET REINE DE FRANCE
Reverse - MUR.D. BY / THE FACTIOUS . / LOUIS XVI . JAN . 21 . / M ANTOINETTE / OCT . 16 . (branch) / 1793 .
Size, 27 mm.
 
It's pretty difficult at this distance in time to reconstruct the shock that went through Europe, indeed the entire world, when Louis and Marie Antoinette were put to death. While the American Revolution had begun the "de-deification" of monarchy this was still a time when the the coinage of many realms proclaimed that their monarch ruled "by the Grace of God". Even in the post-Enlightenment one fooled with the Lord's prerogatives at their peril.
 
This piece was produced in large numbers in Great Britain at the time and is probably the most affordable and easily collected contemporary piece with a clear political message.
 
No. 547. Pl. 53. 16 Octobre 1793. Médaille.
Louis XVI et M. Antoinette.
R. Murd. by the factious.
LOUIS. XVI ET M. ANTOINETTE ROI ET REINE DE FRANCE (Louis seize et Marie-Antoinette Roi et Reine de France). Têtes de Louis XVI et de Marie-Antoinette accolées, à droite.
Dans le champ: MUR.D. BY THE FACTIOUS. LOUIS XVI. JAN. 21. M: ANTOINETTE OCT. 16. 1793. (Murdered by the factious. Louis seize. January 21. Marie-Antoinette. October 16 1793.) (Assassinés par le factieux. Louis seize 21 janvier. Marie-Antoinette 16 octobre 1793.) Sans types [28m.].
Scan from Hennin's plates...
   Voyez l'article de la médaille No. 544.
   Cette pièce a été frappée en Angleterre.
D&H 995a - France (King and Queen of).
O: Two busts, LOUIS . XVI ET M . ANTOINETTE . ROI ET REINE DE FRANCE.
R: MURD. BY | THE FACTIOUS. | LOUIS XVI. JAN. 21. | M ANTOINETTE | OCT. 16. | 1793.
E:
A. 90a
Plain (not in collar).