Piéforts were never intended for circulation — struck at double or greater thickness on specially prepared planchets, they served as official presentation pieces, proofs of die quality, or records kept by the mint itself. The Charles X series is no exception. Lec#26a in tin is a particular curiosity: tin was chosen not for its intrinsic value but as a soft, workable metal that captures die detail with minimal striking pressure, making it useful for checking a working die before committing to silver production runs.
Piéforts were never intended for circulation — struck at double or greater thickness on specially prepared planchets, they served as official presentation pieces, proofs of die quality, or records kept by the mint itself. The Charles X series is no exception. Lec#26a in tin is a particular curiosity: tin was chosen not for its intrinsic value but as a soft, workable metal that captures die detail with minimal striking pressure, making it useful for checking a working die before committing to silver production runs.