France 1824-MA 20 francs
This specimen was lot 1104 in Jean Elsen sale 124 (Brussels, March 2015), where it sold for €2,700(about US$3,367 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Louis XVIII, seconde restauration (1815-1824), AV 20 francs, 1824 MA, Marseille. Seulement 2.001 p. frappées. Très Rare. Fine brisure du coin devant le nez. Très Beau. (France, Louis XVIII, second restoration (1815-24), gold twenty francs of 1824, Marseille mint, only 2,001 pieces struck. Very rare, die break before the king's nose, very fine.)"
This issue, from the Marseille mint, is one of a type struck during the reign of Louis XVIII from seven mints. Paris mint issues are reasonably common but the branch mint issues are generally rare. A complete set of this type (1816-24) comprises 34 date and mintmark combinations. Le Franc[2] estimates a total mintage of 12.7 million for the whole type. All gold twenty francs were officially recalled in 1928 but effectively ceased to circulate during World War I.
Recorded mintage: 1,983[2], a very rare date.
Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, 21 mm diameter, edge lettered DOMINE SALVUM FAC REGEM, Designed by August François Michaud, 1786-1879.
Catalog reference: Gad-1028; Fr-546, F.519/32, KM 712.5.
- 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]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 124, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2015.
Link to:
- 1823-A 20 francs
- 1823-W 20 francs
- 1823-A 40 francs
- 1824-A ¼ franc
- 1824-L ¼ franc
- 1824-M ¼ franc
- 1824-A ½ franc
- 1824-I demi-franc
- 1824-W ½ franc
- 1824-A franc
- 1824-W franc
- 1824-A 2 francs
- 1824-D 2 francs
- 1824-I 2 francs
- 1824-Q 2 francs
- 1824-W 2 francs
- 1824-A 5 francs, Louis XVIII
- 1824-A 5 francs, Charles X
- 1824-K 5 francs, Louis XVIII
- 1824-L 5 francs, Louis XVIII
- 1824-M 5 francs
- 1824-MA 5 francs
- 1824-W 5 francs, Louis XVIII
- 1824-A 40 francs, Louis XVIII
- 1824-A 40 francs, Charles X
- 1824-A 20 francs
- 1824-W 20 francs
- Coins and currency dated 1824