France 1791-R 2 sols

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Stack's Bowers 2025 ANA sale, lot 43128
SB825-43128r.jpg

This specimen was lot 43128 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Oklahoma City, OK, August 2025), where it sold for $1,440. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. Constitution. Bell Metal 2 Sols, Year 3/1791-R. Orléans Mint. Louis XVI. PCGS MS-64. Despite a minor planchet flaw near 3 o'clock at the edge of the reverse, this near-Gem offers unrivaled quality and flair, and stands as the only such example of the type in the PCGS census. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Coin Galleries in 1997 for $308). Ex: Coin Galleries (4/1997) Lot #940." This coin was minted at Orléans during the throes of the Revolution. 1793 was the year the king was tried and executed. Amid the chaos, large quantities of these copper two sols were issued, along with six and twelve deniers (half and one sols). The 1791-93 issues bear the bust of the king but his ouster forced the removal of his portrait. This type was hurriedly and crudely made and is rarely found better than Very Good.

Recorded mintage: unknown but a common mint.

Specification: 24.47 g, bronze or brass, 36 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM-603.14; Gad-25.

Sources:

  • Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
  • Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
  • Guilloteau, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, Colonies 1670-1942 et Metropole 1774-1942, Versailles, 1942.
  • Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
  • [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2025 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Richard August Collection and the Richard Margolis Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.

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