Le meilleur ami de la Prusse

[Tom Y]

On July 19, 1870 Louis Napoleon declare war on Prussia. Less than two months later he and his army were prisoners. Needless to say, the French people were not overjoyed. To show their opinion of Louis they came up with this. It was hardly legal tender, but did get the point across.

The size of a two Franc coin, it shows Louis smoking a cigarette in a Pickehaub and dog collar inscribe "Sedan", the site of his surrender. The inscription around him reads "Napoleon III le Miserable . 80,000 Prisonniers" The reverse shows an owl standing on a cannon and pile of bones, a caricature of the French Imperial Eagle, and the inscription "Vampire Francais . 2 Decber 1851 .2 Septber 1870".

Suprisingly enough, he never returned to the throne

Edited September 23, 2007 by Tom Y