French small change

Hi, could be this is one for Cass? I know they are pre and post-revolution and going a bit mouldy, (any cure for that)? Information is and anecdotes welcome. Had them since I was a boy. I know about the L'an 8, what Christian year is that? Are any 'sous des cloches'?
These, although humble are favourites of mine. It's a vitual time travel when a coin has been well circulated. However, I may sell or swap for potential new favourites.

Your third coin dated 1779 would appear to be this https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces5466.html

Here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Republican_Calendar you can read about the French Republican Calendar
There you will find that AN8 started on September 23rd 1799.
Concerning your coins:
Un Décime is 1/10 Franc and it has been minted in Paris (Mint mark A).
The 5 Centimes has been minted in Matz (Mint mark AA).
These coins are relatively common in lower grades, scarce in XF and extremely rare in uncirculated.
They have been minted in 12 different mints. Some are very hard to find.
Concerning the 5 Centimes you may find funny errors where five is misspelled CNIQ instead of CINQ.
The last one has been minted in Lille (Mint mark W) well before the Revolution.

Some information about your second coin here http://www.monnaiesdantan.com/vso4/centimes-dupre-grand-module-p1000.htm and http://www.lefranc.net/monnaie,cinq-centimes-dupr-grand-module,115.html

Regarding your first coin it's a little hard to see the detail on the reverse but this may be of some help http://www.celtic-coin-agora.com/RepDec.htm

Looks like other people got there before me!

Anyway, here's their Numista pages so you can log them into your collection here, from left to right:

1 Décime, France 1st Republic: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces887.html
(possibly one of the other (overstrike) types, but the details on your coin are too faded to make much more out)

5 Centimes, France 1st Republic: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces886.html
(possibly the overstrike type; Year 8 of the French Republican Calendar is 1799-1800 in the Gregorian calendar)

1 Sol, France - Kingdom Louis XVI: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces5466.html


You're welcome to ask questions to me via PM or on the forums, and as always if you're unsure about anything and I will try to help you out to the best of my abilities.

Cass; auscoin, maudry, thank you so much for the full and comprehensive information. Excellent reading which has elevated my interest in coins of this era. It's only a memory but was I right in thinking that church bells were melted down in the early revolutionary years to make sous des cloches, and if so how can these be identified?

A world of respect.
Incitatus.

Quote: "INCITATUS18"​It's only a memory but was I right in thinking that church bells were melted down in the early revolutionary years to make sous des cloches, and if so how can these be identified?

​Yes that is correct.
But the decimal coins from your post have not been struck on church bells melted down.
The "métal de cloche" can be identified through t's colour.
Here's a copper coin:


And this one is made from church bells:

Maudry, thanks. I understand better now. Once I've got to grips with Numista's modus operandi I plan to offer quite a few things. I hope to be able to aquire one of these bronze coins then by swap or purchase.