French Experiments with Paper Money - Part 1 By: Pierre Driessen This article was sparked by a conversation with a dealer at a recent coin show. As I was admiring the nice mandat he had for sale, the dealer surprised me with his questions. He was wondering exactly what it was, who issued it and how it worked? As we were talking, I was struck by the similarities between the story of this mandat and present day experimentation with paper money by governments all over the world. The mandat, a form of paper money, was issued by the Revolutionary government of France at the close of the 18th … [Read more...]

Tetradrachm of Mithradates II By: Terrance Cheesman The Parthian Kingdom occupied the region of modern day Iraq and Iran. Starting in north eastern Iran, the Parthians conquered Iran by 230 B.C. and Iraq by 170 B.C. They were a constant menace to the Greek kingdoms in Syria and Turkey, and later to the Romans when they conquered the Greeks. Mithradates II who reigned from 123 to 88 B.C. witnessed the beginning of the Roman domination of the eastern Mediterranean. He was the first to make contact with the Romans when his ambassadors made contact with the Roman general Sulla. This … [Read more...]

The U.S. Standing Liberty Quarter, (1916-1930) By: Marc Bink Imagine if you will; a protest of thousands of people taking place in front of the Parliament buildings; - over a lousy quarter! This sort of thing did happen once, but not in Canada, it happened in the United States in 1917. All it took was one little coin, one with an effigy of Liberty standing carelessly with her right breast hanging out to bring people into the streets, writing nasty letters to their Congressmen, crowing in public places that the world was coming to an end, and that the Devil was on the loose. One has to … [Read more...]

The IMPERIAL EAGLE of FRANCE By: Jean Pierre Driessen Napoleon Bonaparte had a problem. Following his proclamation as Emperor of the French on 28 Floréal, AN XII (18 May 1804), what would be the symbols of his regime and dynasty? Symbols which would personify the new political order and his subjects could identify with and rally around. At a counsel of state on 23 Prairial, AN XII (12 June 1804), the topic of the main symbol of state was hotly debated. It had to be distinct, clear and powerful. In Napoleon’s case, it also had to be very different from those of the Bourbon monarchy of … [Read more...]

Hostage for a King By: Jean Pierre Driessen This is the story of Pierre-Prosper Guéllon-Marc, living during a time of tremendous upheaval and danger, who took the path of humanity, honor and justice. Compelled by personal conviction he made a decision, to make a stand and take action which could prove to be very dangerous for him and his family. Born 5 September 1752 in the city of Troyes in the Champagne region of France to a bourgeois family. He led a comfortable and rather unremarkable life. In fact, little beyond these basics is known of his early life. All changed with the eruption … [Read more...]