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5 Gourdes - Faustin I Essai, small bust
| Issuer | Empire of Haiti |
|---|---|
| Year | 1854 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 25 g |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | FAUSTIN IER. EMPEREUR. (Translation: Emperor Faustin I) |
| Reverse description | The central field bears the imperial coat of arms of the Haitian Empire, depicting a richly detailed heraldic composition surmounted by a large imperial crown. Two figures flank the shield as supporters, holding banners or staffs, with additional trophies and decorative elements arranged below. The entire armorial composition is rendered in fine engraved detail against a plain field. The legend EMPIRE D'HAITI arcs along the upper periphery in capital letters, and the design is enclosed by a toothed milled border. |
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| Additional information |
Faustin Soulouque seized power in 1847 after Haitian elites miscalculated that he could be manipulated, then declared himself Emperor Faustin I in 1849 — one of only two self-proclaimed emperors in Caribbean history. The essai coinage of 1854 was part of a broader effort to furnish his empire with the trappings of legitimate monarchical rule, including a proper struck coinage. Most essais from this reign never advanced to circulation issues, leaving pattern pieces as the primary physical numismatic record of his imperial ambitions.
The "small bust" distinction differentiates this piece from at least one other known 1854 essai variety, suggesting multiple die trials were conducted before the project stalled.