France - Hercules Grp. 1848 Revolution

With the advent of the French Second Republic of 1848 - 51, the mint revived the design of the Hercules Group first seen in An 10 (1801). As part of the group, the allegorical figure of France holds the masonic level. I know Hercules symbolized strength and is seen in the private coinage of the Monnerons during the French Revolution and the Boulton coinage of 1792 and on. I'll have to do some further research on this 2 year type. It was replaced with the Ceres Head issues. Paris struck these on revived steam driven press (beginning in 1846) and they used sectional collared dies. The edge inscription is "DIEU PROTOGE LA FRANCE ***," this inscription was dropped for the for the 1849 A issue. I guess they initially forgot that they were supposed to be anti-church. This example is well preserved and very well struck with a fine wire rim on the reverse.