France 1837-K 2 francs
This specimen was lot 981 in Jean Elsen sale 122 (Brussels, September 2014), where it sold for €120 (about US$184 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Louis-Philippe (1830-1848), AR 2 francs, 1837 K, Bordeaux. Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Louis Philippe (1830-48), silver two francs of 1837, Bordeaux mint, very fine.)"
This type was struck during the reign of Louis Philippe of France (1830-48) from numerous mints. The specimen shown is from Bordeaux and is scarce. It is priced[1] about four times higher in VF than the commonest date (1847A). Many issues of this type are known from a handful (<10) of examples. The type is not difficult to find but is expensive in high grade. All two francs issued prior to 1859, including this one, were demonetized in 1869 to make way for the succeeding issue which was only 0.835 fine.
Specification: 27 mm diameter, 10 grams, 0.900 fine silver. Designed by Joseph François Domard, 1792-1858.
Recorded mintage: 35,778[1].
Catalog reference: F.260/66, KM 743.5, Gad-520.
- 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]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies. Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
- [2]Philippe Elsen et al., Vente Publique 122: Collection de monnaies chinoises, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S. A., 2014.
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