France 1808-M 1/2 franc

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Stack's Bowers June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction, part of lot 71362
SB626-71362h.jpg

This specimen was part of lot 71362 in Stack's Bowers June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2026), which sold for $854. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. Consulate—Empire. Nonet of Demi-Francs (1/2 Franc) (9 Pieces), Years 12 (1803/4) to 1810. Napoleon I. Grade Range: FINE Details to EXTREMELY FINE Details. 1) Consulate. Year 12-Q (1803/4), Perpignan. FINE. Damaged. 2) Empire. Year 12-M (1803/4). Toulouse. VERY FINE. Cleaned. 3) Empire. Year 13-Q, Perpignan. FINE. 4) Empire. 1806-L, Bayonne. FINE. Tooled. 5) Empire. 1807-A, Paris. VERY FINE. Cleaned. 6) Empire. 1808-M, Toulouse. VERY FINE. 7) Empire. 1809-Q. Perpignan. VERY FINE. 8) Empire. 1810-B, Rouen. VERY FINE. Scratched. 9) Empire. 1810-L, Bayonne. EXTREMELY FINE. Environmental Damage. SOLD AS IS/NO RETURNS. From the Richard Margolis Collection." This type was struck 1808-09 during the reign of Napoleon I from 14 mints. The specimen shown is from Toulouse and is scarce. 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: 54,333[2].

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

Catalog reference: F.177/8 or F.177A/11, KM-680.9; Gad-398.

Source:

  • Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
  • [2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies. Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
  • Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
  • [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.

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