France 1812-B 2 francs
This specimen was lot 71362 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2025), where it sold for $408. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. Empire. 2 Francs, 1812-B. Rouen Mint. Napoleon I. PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, AU Details. Somewhat cleaned, as noted, but also fairly deeply toned and attractive, with great overall detail remaining. From the Richard Margolis Collection." In 1809, the reverse legend was changed from "REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE" to "EMPIRE FRANCAISE" and struck in this form until 1814. It is the most common Napoleonic two francs after the Year 12. It was demonetized in 1869. A complete set of this type comprises 69 date and mintmark combinations, most scarce to rare.
Recorded mintage: 57,400[2], a scarce date.
Specification: 10 g, 0.900 fine silver, 27 mm diameter, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE. Designed by Pierre Joseph Tiolier, 1763-1819.
Catalog reference: F.255/39, KM-693.2; Gad-501.
- 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:
- 1811-B ½ franc
- 1811-B 2 francs
- 1812-A ½ franc
- 1812-B ½ franc
- 1812-MA ½ franc
- 1812-T ½ franc
- 1812-flag ½ franc
- 1812-W demi-franc
- 1812-A franc
- 1812-B franc
- 1812-BB franc
- 1812-D franc
- 1812-I franc
- 1812-R franc
- 1812-W franc
- 1812-flag franc
- 1812-A 2 francs
- 1812-BB 2 francs
- 1812-H 2 francs
- 1812-I 2 francs
- 1812-L 2 francs
- 1812-MA 2 francs
- 1812-W 2 francs
- 1812-flag 2 francs
- 1812-A 5 francs
- 1812-B 5 francs
- 1812-BB 5 francs
- 1812-D 5 francs
- 1812-H 5 francs
- 1812-I 5 francs
- 1812-K 5 francs
- 1812-L 5 francs
- 1812-M 5 francs
- 1812-MA 5 francs
- 1812-Q 5 francs
- 1812-R 5 francs
- 1812-T 5 francs
- 1812-U 5 francs
- 1812-W 5 francs
- 1812-flag 5 francs
- 1812-A 20 francs
- 1812-K 20 francs
- 1812-L 20 francs
- 1812-M 20 francs
- 1812-Q 20 francs
- 1812-R 20 francs
- 1812-U 20 francs
- 1812-W 20 francs
- 1812-A 40 francs
- 1812-W 40 francs
- 1813-B 2 francs
- 1813-CL 2 francs
- Coins and currency dated 1812