France 1810-I 2 francs

from the Mountain Groan Collection

Stack's Bowers September 2025 Collectors Choice sale, lot 71355

This type was struck 1809-14 during the reign of Napoleon I from numerous mints. The specimen shown is from Limoges and is a rare date. It is priced^[1] about five times the commonest date (1811A) even in Good. 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. All two 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. The second specimen was lot 71355 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2025), where it sold for $145. The catalog description^[2] noted, "FRANCE. Empire. 2 Francs, 1810-I. Limoges Mint. Napoleon I. PCGS VF-25. Displaying honest, even wear, this wholesome minor presents a deeper tone and retains some alluring brilliance among the protected areas. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Jean Vinchon in Paris on 19 September 1972 for $36)."

Specification: 27 mm diameter, 10 grams, 0.900 fine silver, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE. Designed by Pierre Joseph Tiolier, 1763-1819.

Recorded mintage: 28,472^[1].

Catalog reference: F.255/15, KM-693.7; Gad-501.

Source:

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.
^[1]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies. Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
^[2]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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France 1810-I 2 francs

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