France 1808-U franc

Stack's Bowers 2025 ANA sale, lot 43398

This specimen was lot 43398 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Oklahoma City, OK, August 2025), where it sold for $1,140. The catalog description^[1] noted, "FRANCE. Empire. Franc, 1808-U. Turin Mint. Napoleon I. PCGS VF-20. A RARE date and mint combination, this evenly circulated specimen represents the sole example observed in the PCGS census. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Leu on 15 October 1975). Ex: Leu (10/1975) Lot # 286 (part of)." The Turin mint in Italy struck coinage of French design from year 12 to 1813. Most of its product, like this one, is rare. This design added a laurel wreath to Napoleon's bust. In 1809, the reverse was revised to read "EMPIRE FRANÇAISE".

Recorded mintage: 13,427.

Specification: 5 g, 0.900 fine silver, 23 mm diameter, decorated edge, designed by Pierre Joseph Tiolier (1763-1819).

Catalog reference: KM-682.13; Gad-446; F.204/14.

Sources:

Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 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, August 2025 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Richard August Collection and the Richard Margolis Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.

Link to:

France 1808-U franc

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