20-franc piece, Napoleon I, brockage reverse 1808

This 20-franc piece, featuring Napoleon I, was made by Jean-Pierre Droz. It is a silver coin, created through striking. However, this particular coin has a minting error known as a brockage, where the design is impressed on both sides, one being a mirror image. Think about the labor involved in minting coins. Droz was a master of his craft, but the process itself was becoming increasingly mechanized during Napoleon's reign. The value of the coin was derived from the silver, but also from the image it carried: Napoleon as Emperor. Currency not only greases the wheels of commerce, it also conveys political messages. The brockage error is interesting because it exposes the process of striking. It is a reminder that even in a system of mass production, mistakes happen. This particular coin is a fascinating intersection of material value, political messaging, and the human element in mechanized production.