France (1794)-W 6 livres
This specimen was lot 1627 in Künker Auction 425 (Osnabrück, July 2025), where it sold for €2,800 (about US$3,965 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"EUROPÄISCHE MÜNZEN UND MEDAILLEN · FRANKREICH, KÖNIGREICH Convention, 1792-1795. 6 Livres AN II (1794) W, Lille. Von großer Seltenheit. Hübsche Patina, leicht justiert, vorzüglich. (kingdom of France, convention, 1792-95, six livres of the year II, Lille mint. Extremely rare, handsome patina, lightly adjusted, extremely fine.)"
When this coin was struck at Lille, 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, this specimen 29,30 g.
Catalog reference: KM 625.4, Dav-1336; Gadoury 60; Mazard 251 a.
- 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]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 425: Gold coins from the Medieval and Modern Times, from the Mohr family collection, e.g. | Silver coins, e.g. highlights of medallic art | German coins after 1871, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2025.
- George Sobin, Jr., The Silver Crowns of France, 1640-1973. Teaneck, NJ: Richard Margolis, 1974.
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