France 1808-K 5 francs

Stack's Bowers September 2025 Collectors Choice sale, lot 71291

This specimen was lot 71291 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2025), where it sold for $264. The catalog description^[1] noted, "FRANCE. Empire. 5 Francs, 1808-K. Bordeaux Mint. Napoleon I. PCGS VF-30. Evenly circulated and original, this pale gray crown offers solid appeal and charm. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Glendining's in 1981 for $135). Ex: Glendining's (2/1981) Lot # 218 (part of)." Silver five francs were minted throughout Napoleon's reign in large quantities using looted bullion. This design added a laurel wreath to Napoleon's bust. The 1808-A and 1808-B are the common mints for the year; the entire production run totaled about 9.4 million pieces. In 1809, the reverse was revised to read "EMPIRE FRANÇAISE".

Recorded mintage: 53,854^[2], a scarce date.

Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver, 37 mm diameter, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE. Designed by Pierre Joseph Tiolier, 1763-1819.

Catalog reference: Dav-84; Sobin-57; F.306/8, KM-686.7; Gad-583.

Sources:

Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 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:

France 1808-K 5 francs

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