France 1813-A 1/2 franc

Goldberg sale 69, lot 4686

Jean Elsen sale 137, lot 1055

from the Mountain Groan Collection

The first specimen was lot 4686 in Goldberg sale 69 (Los Angeles, May, 2012), where it did not sell. The catalog description^[2] noted, "France. ½ Franc, 1813-A. Napoleon I. Laureate head. Brilliant mint luster. NGC graded MS-64." It was offered again as lot 3994 in their sale 70 but once again it did not sell. The second specimen was lot 1055 in Jean Elsen sale 137 (Brussels, June 2018), where it sold for €80 (about US$111 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[3] noted,

"FRANCE, Napoléon Ier (1804-1814), AR demi-franc, 1813A, Paris. Petits coups. Superbe. (empire of France, Napoleon I, 1804-14, silver half franc of 1813, Paris mint. Minor nicks, extremely fine.)"

This dime-sized coin was struck at Paris under the régime of Napoleon as emperor. The type was struck 1809-14 and is most available of the Napoleonic demi-francs. It was demonetized in 1869. The catalog^[1] notes 65 dates for the type, some very rare. This date is common.

Recorded mintage: 627,154^[1]

Specification: 2.5 g, 0.900 fine silver, 18 mm diameter, decorated edge. Designed by Pierre Joseph Tiolier, 1763-1819.

Catalog reference: F.178/50, KM-691.1; Gad-399.

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]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, Stephen Harvey and Paul Rynearson, Goldberg sale 69: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Ancient and World Coins, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2012.
^[3]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 137, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2018.

Link to:

France 1813-A 1/2 franc

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