Victoria (1837-1901). Essai de 5 francs international ou double florin, tranche lisse, par William Wyon, Flan bruni (PROOF) 1868, Londres.

GREAT BRITAIN Victoria (1837-1901). Pattern of 5 international francs or Double florin, smooth edge, by William Wyon, Proof 1868, London.
Obv. VICTORIA D: G: BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:. Crowned bust facing left.
Rev. 5 FRANCS / INTERNATIONAL. In a two oak branches crown : DOUBLE FLORIN (date).
W&R.372 (R4) - KM.Pn115 ; Gold - 1,52g - 16 mm - 12h.
NGC PF64 ULTRA CAMEO. Proof : the mate mint lustre on the reliefs is barely touched and mirror fields only show some fingerprints. Less than 20 known examples.

In 1867, under the reign of Napoleon III, France seeks to create a universal currency based on the Germinal franc. The Universal Exposition attracts 7 million visitors from all around the world. In the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosts an international monetary conference with European countries, including Russia and the Ottoman Empire, and the United States of America. In 1865, the Second Empire already succeeded in establishing the Latin Union between France, Belgium, Switzerland and Italy. After 2 months of discussions, the project is abandoned but a theoretical agreement is reached on some points : the gold standard (the silver is abandoned) ; the fineness of 9/10th and the unified weights ; the decimal system (the duodecimal system is abandoned) ; common monetary unit. In France, a 25 gold francs coin is desired, a coin close to the American 5 dollars, the USA being the first country to have a decimal system in the world, but also close to the British sovereign and to the 10 Dutch forints. 1868 should have been the year of realization for the project but it has to face lack of political consensus and then the shift to protectionist blocs. For Great Britain, this double florin or 5 francs project is the work of William Wyon ; he took special care of this strike, intent to impress internationally.