Mercury (Large) & Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité 2 Francs France Authentic Coin Money for Jewelry and Craft Making (Liberty Equality Brotherhood) (Third Republic) (God of Business)
Obverse: Mercury, the god of commerce (god of abundance and commercial success)
Lettering: COMMERCE INDUSTRIE
Translation:
Industry of Commerce
Reverse: Denomination in center, lettering surrounding
Lettering: ✿ CHAMBRES·DE·COMMERCE·DE·FRANCE
BON POUR
2 FRANCS
BR. AL.
Translation: Chambers of Commerce of France
Good For 2 Francs
Bronze-Aluminum
Features
Issuer France
Period Third Republic (1870-1940)
Type Standard circulation coin
Years 1920-1927
Value 2 Francs
Currency Franc (1795-1959)
Composition Copper-aluminium
Weight 8 g
Diameter 27 mm
Thickness 2.14 mm
Shape Round
Technique Milled
Orientation Coin alignment ↑↓
Demonetized 1 September 1949
Number N# 699
References F# 267, Gad# 533, KM# 877
Wikipedia:
Mercury (/ˈmɜːrkjʊri/; Latin: Mercurius [mɛrˈkʊrijʊs] (About this soundlisten)) is a major god in Roman religion and mythology, being one of the 12 Dii Consentes within the ancient Roman pantheon. He is the god of financial gain, commerce, eloquence, messages, communication (including divination), travelers, boundaries, luck, trickery and thieves; he also serves as the guide of souls to the underworld.
In Roman mythology, he was considered to be either the son of Maia, one of the seven daughters of the Titan Atlas, and Jupiter, or of Caelus and Dies. In his earliest forms, he appears to have been related to the Etruscan deity Turms; both gods share characteristics with the Greek god Hermes. He is often depicted holding the caduceus in his left hand. Similar to his Greek equivalent Hermes, he was awarded a magic wand by Apollo, which later turned into the caduceus, the staff with intertwined snakes.
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After the First World War the French currency collapsed. In 1921, the franc was devaluated and replaced by pieces from aluminum. These coins were not national issues but substitution coins, tokens minted by the chambers of commerce. The obverse depicts Mercury, the Roman god of trade. In his right hand the god holds a caduceus or wand of Mercury, the symbol of commerce; in his left hand he carries a lyre. The inscription on the reverse reads BON POUR 1 FRANC: token for 1 franc.
Source: https://www.moneymuseum.com/en/coins?&id=1188
