France 1791-AA 12 deniers

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Jean Elsen sale 146, lot 228
from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale, lot 43088
SB824-43088r.jpg

The first specimen was lot 228 in Jean Elsen sale 146 (Brussels, November 2020), where it sold for €90 (about US$131 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Constitution (1791-1792), 12 deniers, 1791AA, an 3, Metz. Type FRANCOIS. 2e semestre. D/ B. dr. à g. R/ Faisceau dans une couronne de chêne. Métal de cloche. Légèrement nettoyé. presque Superbe. (France, constitutional period, 1791-92, twelve deniers of year 3, Metz mint, type FRANCOIS, second semester. Obverse: draped bust left; reverse: fasces in an oak wreath. Bell metal, lightly cleaned, about Extremely Fine.)"

This specimen is one of a type struck 1791-93 during the early stages of the French Revolution before the trial and execution of the king. Enormous quantities were produced at several temporary mints from any metal available. This is a scarce date. The Metz mint closed in 1800. The second specimen was lot 43088 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $1,920. The catalog description[2] noted,

"FRANCE. Constitution. Bell Metal 12 Deniers, Year 3/1791-AA. Metz Mint. Louis XVI. PCGS MS-63. Thick planchet. Given its thicker planchet and specially smoothed edge, Margolis posits that this example is very likely a special or specimen striking. VERY RARE so attractive, well made, and well preserved. PCGS has designated this as a restrike, though given the noted métal de cloche (MDC), or bell metal composition, one would think that this occurred only shortly after the listed date. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Weil on 5 June 1989). Ex: Alain Weil (6/1989) Lot # 5."

Specification: brass, bronze or copper, 12.23 g, 29 mm diameter. Engraved by Benjamin Duvivier; the first specimen 12,30 g, the second specimen 17.22 g.

Recorded mintage: unknown but somewhat scarce.

Catalog reference: Ciani-2253, KM 600.2, Dupl-1723; Gad-15.

Source:

  • 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.
  • Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 5me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2018.
  • [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 146: Collection Anthony Lorrain Monnaies de Metz, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2020.
  • [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2024 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Emilio M. Ortiz Collection, The Richard Margolis Collection and The Rutherford Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.

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