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France - 1794

Dechristianization of the French Republic

Obverse
Obverse:
Donkey in profile facing right under a radiated triangle. It is dressed in the garb of a bishop or cardinal and is trampling on symbols of Christianity.
Legend:
On right: MORT AU / FANATISME
On left: ET A LA / SUPERTITION
Death to Fanaticism and to Superstition
Exergue:
VILLE AFFRANCHIE / L’AN II. R. F.
Freed City [Lyon] / The Year II Republic of France
Size:
42.8 mm.
Reverse
Reverse:
Skeleton holding a scythe to the left of a female allegory draped in the antique style and helmeted, holding a spear in one hand and a coat of arms stamped with a legend in 3 lines: LA / LIBERTÉ / OU
Exergue:
B. VN. CGIC. JR. GR. LD / CT. CB. M. E B.

Vern's Comments:

Julius 439
No explanation of the reverse exergue has surfaced in my research. It is an early and rare piece and depicts an actual event described in the seminal book Citizens. This is related to the siege and capture of Lyon by the troops of the Convention in October 1793, the massacres and repression which followed, with the bonus of the renaming of Lyon and its new name "Freed City".

Dechristianization of the French Republic

obverse

Dechristianization of the French Republic

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