France 1816-L 40 francs
The first specimen was lot 1831 in Jean Elsen sale 117 (Brussels, June 2013), where it sold for €550 (about US$867 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Louis XVIII, seconde restauration (1815-1824), AV 40 francs, 1816 L, Bayonne. 3.300 exemplaires frappés. Rare. Très Beau. (France, Louis XVIII, second restoration (1815-24), gold forty francs of 1816, Bayonne mint. Rare, very fine.)"
The second specimen was lot 23858 in Heritage sale 3024 (Chicago, April 2013), where it sold for $1,527.50. The catalog description[2] noted, "Louis XVIII gold 40 Francs 1816-L, KM713.4, Bayonne, AU50 PCGS, lightly toned and original, very scarce mint and grade." This type was struck 1816-24 and most of the fourteen known dates are rare. This is a product of the Bayonne mint. This one is scarce, priced about 60% more than the common dates 1816-A, 1817-A and 1818-W, but it is not as rare as the mintage would make it appear.
Recorded mintage: 3,258.
Specification: 26 mm diameter, 12.90 grams, 0.900 fine gold, .373 troy oz AGW, lettered edge, designed by Auguste-François Michaut (1786-1879).
Catalog reference: F.542/3, Gad-1092, KM 713, Fr-534.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, Vente Publique 117: Collection Jean-Jacques Symoens, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses fils, S.A., 2013.
- Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
- Guilloteau, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, Colonies 1670-1942 et Metropole 1774-1942, Versailles, 1942.
- Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
- [2]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3024, featuring the Kairos and Elizabeth McPhall Charters Collections, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.
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