France 1834-A 5 francs
This specimen was lot 1215 in Jean Elsen sale 121 (Brussels, June 2014), where it sold for €80 (about US$128 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Louis-Philippe Ier (1830-1848), AR 5 francs, 1834 A, Paris. Nettoyée. Petites griffes. Superbe à Fleur de Coin. (kingdom of France, Louis Philippe (1830-48), silver five francs of 1834, Paris mint. Cleaned, faint scratches, extremely fine to uncirculated.)"
The silver five francs of Louis Philippe (1830-48) were issued in massive quantities from numerous mints. Le Franc IX[1] estimates a total of 335 million were made, counting all sub-types. This issue, from the Paris mint, is common. A complete set of this middle sub-type (1832-44) comprises 102 date and mintmark combinations, some quite scarce. 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: 11,304,889.
Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver, 37 mm diameter, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE. Designed by Joseph François Domard, 1792-1858.
Catalog reference: Dav-91; KM-749.1; Gad-678, F.324/30.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- 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]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 121, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2014.
- George Sobin, Jr., The Silver Crowns of France, 1640-1973. Teaneck, NJ: Richard Margolis, 1974.
- Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
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