French New World Issues, 1721 to 1722: The 9 Deniers “Copper Sou”
In the early 1720s, French officials were still trying to solve a persistent colonial problem: a dependable supply of low-denomination coins for everyday trade in French territories overseas. Silver remained the preferred medium of exchange, but it was not always available in sufficient quantity for routine commerce. Copper was the practical alternative, and in June 1721, a royal edict issued during Louis XV’s minority authorized copper 9 deniers pieces, often called a copper sou, for France’s New World colonies, including Canada, Louisiana, and the French Caribbean. The edict called for a large mintage, but records show that only a portion was struck. Precise mintages remain undocumented.
The 1721 Edict and Where the Coins Were Minted
Two mints produced these 9 deniers pieces: Rouen and La Rochelle. Rouen issues carry a “B” mintmark, while La Rochelle issues carry an “H” mintmark, and both appear with the 1721 date. La Rochelle continued production into 1722, creating the most frequently encountered date-and-mint combinations from the series.
Improved planchet material is one reason the project advanced beyond earlier attempts. The copper blanks used for these coins were of higher quality than prior colonial copper initiatives, and that copper was imported from Sweden, a fact which helps explain the relatively consistent appearance of many survivors.
The size of the shipment shows that officials intended a substantial supply of small change, rather than a limited trial. About 534,000 pieces were shipped to Canada in 1722 for intended use in New France, even though actual circulation and acceptance were limited.
Designs, Major Varieties, and What Happened in Circulation
Collectors group the 1721–1722 nine-denier pieces into four types, distinguished by date, mintmark, and a noted overdate. The scarcest of the group is typically the 1721-B from Rouen, which is encountered less often than the La Rochelle issues.
Across the series, the basic design remains consistent. The obverse shows a crowned monogram formed by crossed “L” letters, a clear reference to Louis XV’s royal authority. Around the border is the Latin legend “SIT NOMEN DOMINI BENEDICTUM,” translated as “BLESSED IS THE NAME OF THE LORD”. This religious phrase is familiar to collectors because it appears on several French colonial and colonial-adjacent issues and serves as an easy identification point when a coin is worn.
The reverse is entirely textual and reads in stacked lines “COLONIES” and “FRANCOISES,” followed by the date and mintmark. For example, a Rouen coin reads “COLONIES / FRANCOISES / 1721 / B,” while a La Rochelle coin would end with “H.”
The 1722 overdate, usually written 1722/1-H, is a well-known variety and is generally considered scarcer than the normal La Rochelle issues, though relative rarity rankings can vary depending on the reference and reported populations.
Although the edict called for many coins, precise mintages are unknown, and only part of the order was struck. As stated previously, about 534,000 pieces reached Canada in 1722, yet letters of the period indicate that only 8,180 entered circulation. The shortfall is typically attributed to a local preference for silver and claims that the copper coins felt underweight. These concerns reduced confidence and led many merchants to reject them.
By 1726, large quantities of the unused 9 deniers were gathered and shipped back to France for melting and reuse of the copper, closing the chapter on what had been intended as a practical colonial small-change solution.
