FRENCH MINT IN 1895.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1265, 28 May 1896, Page 39

FRENCH MINT IN 1895.

Tho French Alint has just issued its report for tho year 1895, some interesting extracts from which are published in tho Temps. During last year the total number of 21,107,340 gold, silver and bronze pieces ol French money were struck, the whole of a total value of 110,110,030 f. Those included 5,293,317 20-franc pieces, 213,999 10-hanc pieces, 000,000 two-franc pieces, 3,200,000 one-franc pieces, 7,200,000 50-centime pieces, 000,000 10-ccntime pieces, .1,000,000 two-centime pieces and 3,000,000 one-cen-time pieces. hi addition, a large quantity of money has been made for foreign countries, for Inclo-Chinu 31,594.21 If worth of money was coined; for Tunis, 3000 f worth; for Bolivia, 1,000,U00f worth; for Monaco, 2,000,000 f worth ; for Chili, SSOf worth ; for Greece, 1,500,000 f worth; for Guatemala, 750 f worth ; for Hayti, -4,055,10(11’ worth ; for Alorocco, 1,53i,40Ji woitli. The French Alint, therefore, made last year 54,337,732 pieces of money of a. value of 158,098,0114', which is a considerable increase on tho manufacture of preceding years. There woro roniclted for Franco 07,15< light 20f pieces and 799,009 light JOt pieces. In all probability the work at the Alint during 1890 will be even more extensive than in 1895. A new building is shortly to be opened in which medals will be struck. Other works are also being built. As soon as tho plant i.s laid down the Government will commence on. an important order for silver money given by a great foreign Power. ” M. Doumer, Minister of Finance, has commissioned the three well-known medal engravers, MAI. Chaplain, Roty and Daniel Dupuis, to design three new models iV French money. M. Chaplain is to make the model for tho gold pieces, AI. Roty the silver, and AI. Dupuis the bronze. Tho Illustration publishes a reproduction of a description of the model b>r the lu or 5-centime pieces. And rays:—‘‘lhe head of the Republic is more relined, an i tho expression of tho face is sweeter than in tho existing models. The laurel branch, which passes round the drapery of the neck and is prolonged to the top of tho head, is a happy effect. On the reverse is a symbolical figure of I ranee wearing a helmet, and holding in her right hand the national flag and in her left an olive branch.” M. Chaplain is still working on Ins model for tho gold pieces, but has submitted preliminary sketches. On tho "head” side is a profile figure of the Republic rising up from the ground on the right. The head is in the shade of the brandies of an olive tree. On the left in tho background there is a perspective of house roofs, indicating a French town, while on the right is a minaret symbolising the colonies. The reverse consists of a Gallic cock crowing defiantly, while on the right and left a letter and two figures indicate the value of the piece. M. Roty has not yet submitted any sketches.