France 1808-MA 5 francs
This specimen was lot 34095 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2025), where it sold for $2,280. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. Empire. 5 Francs, 1808-MA. Marseille Mint. Napoleon I. PCGS VF-30. A VERY RARE offering as can be seen from its low mintage figure, this wholesome yet moderately circulated example displays mostly pale gray surfaces with hints of color scattered about. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Lepczyk in 1984 for $200). Ex: George Sobin Collection (Joseph Lepczyk - 3/1984) Lot # 1311." Shown is a Napoleonic five francs struck at the Marseille mint in 1808. The various designs of Napoleonic five francs form eight distinct types of which this is the sixth, struck 1807-08 with a complete set of this type comprising 16 date and mintmark combinations, some very rare. This date is rare for the type, being priced 14 times the common date (1808-B). It was officially withdrawn from circulation in 1928 and demonetized in 2005 but ceased to circulate in France after World War One.
Recorded mintage: 2,675[2].
Specification: 25 grams, 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; KM-686.10; Gad-583; F.306/11.
- 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, January 2025 NYINC Showcase Auction, featuring the Richard Margolis Collection, Part III, and the Richard August Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
Links to:
- 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-I 5 francs
- 1807-H 5 francs
- 1807-K 5 francs
- 1807-L 5 francs
- 1807-Q 5 francs
- 1807-U 5 francs
- 1807-W 5 francs
- 1808-BB 5 centimes
- 1808-A billon 10 centimes
- 1808-I billon 10 centimes
- 1808-M billon 10 centimes
- 1808-W billon 10 centimes
- 1808-A ¼ franc
- 1808-I ¼ franc
- 1808-L ¼ franc
- 1808-A ½ franc
- 1808-B ½ franc
- 1808-BB ½ franc
- 1808-D ½ franc
- 1808-H ½ franc
- 1808-I ½ franc
- 1808-K ½ franc
- 1808-Q ½ franc
- 1808-T ½ franc
- 1808-U ½ franc
- 1808-W ½ franc
- 1808-A franc
- 1808-BB franc
- 1808-D franc
- 1808-H franc
- 1808-I franc
- 1808-M franc
- 1808-T franc
- 1808-U franc
- 1808-W franc
- 1808-A 2 francs
- 1808-B 2 francs
- 1808-L 2 francs
- 1808-M 2 francs
- 1808-MA 2 francs
- 1808-Q 2 francs
- 1808-W 2 francs
- 1808-A 5 francs
- 1808-B 5 francs
- 1808-BB 5 francs
- 1808-H 5 francs
- 1808-K 5 francs
- 1808-L 5 francs
- 1808-M 5 francs
- 1808-A 20 francs
- 1808-M 20 francs
- 1808-Q 20 francs
- 1808-U 20 francs
- 1808-W 20 francs
- 1808-A 40 francs
- 1808-H 40 francs
- 1808-M 40 francs
- 1808-U 40 francs
- 1808-W 40 francs
- 1809-A 5 francs
- 1809-B 5 francs
- 1809-D 5 francs
- 1809-H 5 francs
- 1809-I 5 francs
- 1809-K 5 francs
- 1809-L 5 francs
- 1809-MA 5 francs
- 1809-U 5 francs
- 1809-W 5 francs
- Coins and currency dated 1808