France 1808-L 1/2 franc

Stack's Bowers June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction, lot 71244

This specimen was lot 71244 in Stack's Bowers June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2026), where it sold for $390.40. The catalog description^[1] noted, "FRANCE. Empire. Demi Franc (1/2 Franc), 1808-L. Bayonne Mint. Napoleon I. PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, VF Details. A VERY RARE specimen, this minor does display some noted cleaning, but offers some deeper hues along with a very low mintage figure. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired in Paris on 2 February 1981 for $123)." This type was struck 1808-09 during the reign of Napoleon I from 14 mints. The specimen shown is from Bayonne and is rare. Many issues of this type are known from a handful (<10) of examples. The type is not difficult to find but is expensive in high grade. In 1809, the reverse legend was changed from "REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE" to "EMPIRE FRANÇAIS". All half francs issued prior to 1859, including this one, were demonetized in 1869 to make way for the succeeding issue which was only 0.835 fine.

Recorded mintage: 3,382 (3,394 per the SCWC).

Specification: 2.5 grams, 0.900 fine silver, 18 mm diameter, plain edge. Designed by Pierre Joseph Tiolier, 1763-1819.

Catalog reference: F.177/10, KM-680.8; Gad-398.

Source:

Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
^[1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction - Selections from the L.E. Bruun Collection, the Richard Margolis Collection and the Kirk Menczer Collection of Republican Reales Minors, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2026.

Link to:

France 1808-L 1/2 franc

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