France 1807-A 40 francs Fr-481

Jean Elsen sale 160, lot 1727

This specimen was lot 1727 in Jean Elsen sale 160 (Brussels, November 2024), where it sold for €800 (about US$1,013 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Napoléon Ier (1804-1814), AV 40 francs, 1807 A, Paris. Tête nue. Type transitoire. Coups sur la tranche. presque Très Beau. (empire of France, Napoleon I, 1804-14, gold forty francs of 1807, Paris mint, bare head, transitional type. Edge nicks, about very fine.)"

The French empire produced large quantities of gold coins, made from metal looted from countries Napoleon conquered. However, gold coins of the French branch mints are very scarce as a class and have long been underpriced, mostly because the few survivors are in poor condition. This Paris mint issue is a scarce transitional type, sporting the mature bust of Napoleon without the laurel wreath added later in the year.

Recorded mintage: 11,665 of the bare head plus 5,548 of the laureate head^[2].

Specification: 12.90 g, 0.900 fine gold, 26 mm diameter, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE, designed by Pierre-Joseph Tiolier and Jean-Pierre Droz.

Catalog reference: F.539/1, KM A688.1, Gad-1082a; Fr-481.

Source:

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.
Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
^[1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 160, Collection de deniers liegeois et Collection de monnaies d'or francaises, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2024.
^[2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies. Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.

Link to:

France 1807-A 40 francs Fr-481

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