France 1813-H 5 francs

Jean Elsen sale 120, lot 1304

This issue, from the La Rochelle mint, is a fairly common date of a type struck 1809-15. This type succeeded the "REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE" reverse struck 1807-08. A complete set of this type comprises 95 date and mintmark combinations, some very rare. The entire production run totaled about 128 million pieces. This date is priced^[1] about 30% more than the common date (1813A or 1813I). This specimen was lot 1304 in Jean Elsen sale 120 (Brussels, March 2014), where it sold for €100 (about US$165 including buyer's fees. The catalog description^[2] noted,

"FRANCE, Napoléon Ier (1804-1814), AR 5 francs, 1813 H, La Rochelle. Fines traces d'ajustage. Très Beau. (France, Napoleon I (1804-14), silver five francs of 1813, La Rochelle mint. Adjustment marks, very fine.)"

All silver five francs were officially recalled in 1928 but ceased to circulate after World War I. This coin was legal tender in the United States until 1857 at a value of 93 cents.

Recorded mintage: 1,793,904^[1].

Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver, 37 mm diameter, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE, designed by Pierre Joseph Tiolier.

Catalog reference: F.307/63, Dav-85; KM-694.2; Gad-584.

Source:

Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
^[1]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
George Sobin, Jr., The Silver Crowns of France, 1640-1973. Teaneck, NJ: Richard Margolis, 1974.
^[2]Elsen, Philippe, Vente Publique 120, Brussels: Jean Elsen & ses Fils, S.A., 2014.

Link to:

France 1813-H 5 francs

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