There is a wealth of detail of this token; a fleur-de-lys on the shield, portrait of Louis XVI, image of France as a helmeted young woman, the Constitution of the French and swearing soldiers. Designed by Dupré the date l'An IV de la Liberté refers to the French Constitutional Calendar and therefore translates as 1792. The scene on the obverse recalls the Oath of the Federation, the first anniversary of which was celebrated by the Festival of the Federation on 14 July 1790 (hence that date in the exergue). The Festival, which included a mass held by the great French statesman Talleyrand (1754-1838), then the Bishop of Autun, also commemorated the taking of the Bastille and the bond which united the nation with the king and the people. This token was actually minted in Birmingham, England. From the end of 1791 Matthew Boulton, utilising his new steam driven coin presses which was commissioned by the Monneron Brothers to produce 2 and 5 sols pieces in great quantity at his Soho Mint near Birmingham (Birmingham has grown considerable since those times and now encompasses the site where the mint once stood). According to various sources, the total weight of these coins produced was in excess of 70 tonnes, implying a fabrication of 2,334,000 pieces weighing 30 gms. each. These 'monnaies de nécessité' were to be used to remedy the lack of specie which plagued France during the early revolutionary years. The technical and aesthetic quality of the tokens was far superior to the mediocre, officially produced base metal coins of the time.In March 1792, the Monneron Brothers became bankrupt and one brother, Pierre, fled the business. Under the other brother Augustin, the business recovered, but a law of 3rd May 1792 forbade the production of privately issued coinage. In September, a further decree also forbade the marketing of these 'Medailles de Confiance'. This emergency coinage only remained in circulation therefore until the end of 1793.Obverse -Soldiers swearing allegiance to France, who holds a copy of the Constitution.Legend,VIVRE LIBRES OU MOURIER .Exergue14 JUILLET . 1790Above the flagsPACTE FEDERATIFReverse -MEDAILLE DE CONFIANCE DE CINQ-SOLS REMBOURSABLE EN ASSIGNATS DE 50 ET AU DESSUS.ExergueL'AN IV DE LA LIBERTELegendMONNERON FRERES NEGOCIANS A PARIS 1792.

The diameter is 40mm, 3mm in thickness and the weight is 27.37g.