France 1823-A 40 francs
This specimen was lot 1837 in Jean Elsen sale 160 (Brussels, November 2024), where it sold for €24,000 (about US$30,384 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Louis XVIII, seconde restauration (1815-1824), AV 40 francs, 1823 A, Paris. Seulement 161 p. frappées. De la plus haute rareté. Légèrement nettoyé. La plus rare des 40 francs or de Louis XVIII. Très Beau à Superbe. (kingdom of France, Louis XVIII, second restoration, 1815-24, gold forty francs of 1823, Paris mint, only 161 pieces struck. Of the highest rarity, lightly cleaned, the rarest date for Louis XVIII. Very fine to extremely fine.)"
Gold coins of the French branch mints are very scarce as a class and have long been underpriced, mostly because the few survivors are in poor condition. This is the sole forty francs for Louis XVIII, none being issued for his first restoration. The type is common but this is a very rare date.
Recorded mintage: 155[2].
Specification: 12.90 g, 0.900 fine gold, 26 mm diameter, edge lettered DOMINE SALVUM FAC REGEM, designed by Auguste-François Michaut.
Catalog reference: F.542/13, KM 713.1, Gad-1092; Fr-532.
- 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.
- 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.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 160, Collection de deniers liegeois et Collection de monnaies d'or francaises, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2024.
- [2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies. Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
Link to: