France 1809-A franc

Stack's Bowers September 2025 Collectors Choice sale, lot 71395

This specimen was lot 71395 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2025), where it sold for $145. The catalog description^[1] noted, "FRANCE. Empire. Franc, 1809-A. Paris Mint. Napoleon I. PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, AU Details. Though some cleaning and very mild circulation are present, this charming minor offers some delightful pastel iridescence beginning to take hold. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Argenor in 2006 for $525). Ex: Argenor (5/2006) Lot # 434." This type was struck 1809-14. It was demonetized in 1869. The catalog^[2] notes 74 date-mintmark combinations for the type, some very rare. This example seems to have a "Λ" for a mintmark but the crossbar is present, if faint.

Recorded mintage: 979,497^[2], a fairly common date.

Specification: 5 g, 0.900 fine silver, 23 mm diameter, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE. Designed by Pierre Joseph Tiolier, 1763-1819.

Catalog reference: F.205/1, KM-692.1; Gad-447.

Sources:

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.
^[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.

Link to:

France 1809-A franc

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