France 1807-M 1/2 franc
This specimen was lot 71416 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2025), where it sold for $2,640. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. Empire. Demi Franc (1/2 Franc), 1807-M. Toulouse Mint. Napoleon I. PCGS Genuine--Scratch, VF Details. Though some damage and moderate circulation is observed, this minor stands as a solid representative of a rather SCARCE emission. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Patrick Guillard at the NYINC on 10 June 1994 for $230)." This type was struck 1806-07 with eleven different date-mintmark combinations, of which the 1806-A is the only one at all common. In 1806 the French revolutionary calendar was dropped and normal AD dating resumed.
Recorded mintage: 1,785[2], a rare date.
Specification: 2.5 grams, 0.900 fine silver, 18 mm diameter, decorated edge. Designed by Pierre Joseph Tiolier, 1763-1819.
Catalog reference: F.175/9, KM-671.5; Gad-396.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- 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.
- [2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
- George Sobin, Jr., The Silver Crowns of France, 1640-1973. Teaneck, NJ: Richard Margolis, 1974.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, September 2025 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, including Selections from the Richard Margolis Collection and Selections from the L.E. Bruun Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
Link to:
- 1806-A ½ franc
- 1806-I ½ franc
- 1806-K ½ franc
- 1806-L ½ franc
- 1806-Q ½ franc
- 1806-M 5 francs
- 1806-M 40 francs
- 1807-A ¼ franc
- 1807-I ¼ franc
- 1807/6-K ¼ franc
- 1807-L ¼ franc
- 1807-M ¼ franc
- 1807-Q ¼ franc
- 1807-U ¼ franc
- 1807-A ½ franc
- 1807-I ½ franc
- 1807-Q ½ franc
- 1807-U ½ franc
- 1807-A franc, bare head
- 1807-A franc, laureate head
- 1807-I franc
- 1807-K franc
- 1807-L franc
- 1807-Q franc
- 1807-U franc
- 1807-W franc
- 1807-A 2 francs, bare head
- 1807-A 2 francs, laureate head
- 1807-I 2 francs
- 1807-K 2 francs
- 1807-L 2 francs
- 1807-M 2 francs
- 1807-U 2 francs
- 1807-W 2 francs
- 1807-A 5 francs, bare head
- 1807-A 5 francs, laureate head
- 1807-B 5 francs
- 1807-BB 5 francs
- 1807-D 5 francs
- 1807-H 5 francs
- 1807-I 5 francs
- 1807-K 5 francs
- 1807-L 5 francs
- 1807-Q 5 francs
- 1807-U 5 francs
- 1807-W 5 francs
- 1807-A 20 francs, bare head
- 1807-A 20 francs, laureate head
- 1807-M 20 francs
- 1807-U 20 francs
- 1807-W 20 francs
- 1807-A 40 francs, bare head
- 1807-A 40 francs, laureate head
- 1807-I 40 francs
- 1807-M 40 francs
- 1807-U 40 francs
- 1807-W 40 francs
- Coins and currency dated 1807