Belgium 1853 100 francs Fr-409
This specimen was lot 31012 in Heritage sale 3037 (New York, January 2015), where it sold for $25,850. The catalog description[1] noted, "Leopold I gold Specimen 100 Francs 1853 MS63 NGC. A gorgeous specimen with highly reflective surfaces that promote an attractive cameo bust. A few inconsequential ticks are present; however, the overall appearance of this piece remains stunning. Struck to commemorate the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Brabant, this rare one-year type has an extremely low reported mintage of just 482 pieces. Incredibly appealing and scarce at this level of mint-state. From The Empire Collection." This type is dismissed by the SCWC as a medal and not listed therein. Friedberg mentions it and assigns it a number so we will include it. It is accompanied by a five francs (Dav-52), also somewhat medallic.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 32.25 g, 0.900 fine gold, .933 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: KMX-M3.1, Fr-409.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Unusual World Coins, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and Scott Cordry, Heritage Signature Auction 3037, featuring the Empire, the Santa Catarina, the Law and the Santa Maria Collections, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2014.
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