France 1808-Q 5 francs

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Stack's Bowers September 2025 Collectors Choice sale, lot 71293
SB925-71293r.jpg

This specimen was lot 71293 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2025), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. Empire. 5 Francs, 1808-Q. Perpignan Mint. Napoleon I. PCGS VF-25. Though fairly well circulated, this gunmetal gray crown stands as the only example of the type in the PCGS census. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Glendining's in 1977 for $103). Ex: Glendining's (2/1977) Lot # 71 (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. There are two known of this date per Le Franc. In 1809, the reverse was revised to read "EMPIRE FRANÇAISE".

Recorded mintage: 12,302[2], a very rare 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.306/12, KM-686.11; 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.

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