France (1794)-BB 6 livres
This specimen was lot 71135 in Stack's Bowers June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2026), where it sold for $585.60. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. National Convention. Ecu de 6 Livres, Year II-BB (1794). Strasbourg Mint. PCGS Genuine--Repaired, VF Details. A fairly SCARCE type that exhibits deep toning across both sides. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from John Kirkpatrick on 26 November 1982 for $600)." When this coin was struck at Strasbourg, the ancien régime had disappeared with the trial and execution of the king, who had appeared on the previous type (KM 615). In 1793, as invading armies approached from all directions, the Committee of Public Safety would initiate the Terror. In 1795, following the introduction of the metric system, the first five francs would be issued.
Recorded mintage: unknown but rare.
Specification: 29.48 g, 0.917 fine silver, 39 mm diameter, lettered edge.
Catalog reference: KM 625.2, Dav-1336; Gadoury 60.
- Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
- Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction - Selections from the L.E. Bruun Collection, the Richard Margolis Collection and the Kirk Menczer Collection of Republican Reales Minors, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2026.
- George Sobin, Jr., The Silver Crowns of France, 1640-1973. Teaneck, NJ: Richard Margolis, 1974.
Links:
- 1793-BB 6 livres
- L'AN II (1794)-AA sol aux balances
- L'AN II (1794)-BB sol aux balances
- L'AN II (1794)-I sol aux balances
- L'AN II (1794)-MA sol aux balances
- L'AN II (1794)-N sol aux balances
- L'AN II (1794)-N deux sols aux balances
- L'AN II (1794)-R deux sols aux balances
- L'AN II (1794) deux sols aux balances du Béarn
- L'AN II (1794)-B 6 livres
- L'AN II (1794)-W 6 livres
- Coins and currency dated 1794
- return to French royal coinage (to 1793)