Belgium 1835 5 francs
This specimen was lot 30124 in Heritage auction 3096 (Dallas, TX, March 2021), where it sold for $5,040. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Belgium: Leopold I 5 Francs 1835 MS64 NGC, Brussels mint, Position A. A scarce date when compared to the more common 1833-dated issues, which saw over 1.1 million struck against the only 370,000 examples produced in 1835. Better examples, such as the present piece, are therefore downright scarce, with no others certifying above the present level at either NGC or PCGS, and only a single other selection (seen by PCGS) meeting the technical quality of this offering. Clad in a delightful pewter tone with a pullaway effect revealing bright mint luster at the legends and the peripheries of Leopold's bust, this glassy example, ultra-sharp and lacking all but the most trivial signs of handling, might even be considered conservatively graded, easily justifying a competitive bid. From the Paramount Collection."
This type was struck 1832-44 and was the first Belgian five francs issued after obtaining independence from the Netherlands in 1830. As this type comes with a lettered edge, the edge lettering comes in two positions; position A has the lettering facing the reverse and position B has the lettering facing the obverse. This type is not rare but the 1833 is the only common date.
Recorded mintage: 370,000 (position A and B).
Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver, .723 troy oz ASW, lettered edge.
Catalog reference: KM 3.1, Dav-50, Dupriez-122 (R1), Bogaert-122A (R).
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, The Paramount Collection World & Ancient Coins: Signature Auction 3096, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
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