Late 19th Century French Coin Fob Multi-Tool, Paris, c. 1870–1885.

Late 19th Century French Coin Fob Multi-Tool, Paris, c. 1870–1885. This exceptional late 19th-century mechanical curiosity, produced in Paris between approximately 1870 and 1885, represents a sophisticated fusion of numismatic art and Victorian functional utility. Constructed using a die-struck token featuring the profile of Charles X, King of France, the obverse is inscribed "CHARLES X ROI DE FRANCE" while the reverse displays a crowned royal coat of arms framed by a laurel wreath marked "5 F (francs), 1827". The piece is masterfully engineered to conceal a suite of folding implements within the token’s circumference, including a pair of precision scissors, a small penknife blade, and a textured file, all designed to fold smoothly into the housing. This assembly retains its original interlocking chain and suspension ring, serving as a premier example of the "pocket novelty" genre popular in the mid-to-late Victorian era. The central component measures approximately 38mm in diameter, with the entire fob extending to a total length of 90mm including the chain and ring. The item is in good condition.