France 1838-A 40 francs
This specimen was lot 1138 in Jean Elsen sale 124 (Brussels, March 2015), where it sold for €400 (about US$499 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"FRANCE, Louis-Philippe (1830-1848), AV 40 francs, 1838 A, Paris. Très Beau. (France, Louis-Philippe (1830-48), gold forty francs of 1838, Paris mint. Very fine.)"
The specimen shown is a forty francs struck at the Bayonne mint during the regime of Louis Philippe (r. 1830-48). This type, struck 1831-39, was recalled in 1928 and demonetized in 2005 but ceased to circulate during World War One. All are Paris mint except for small issues from Rouen (mintmark "B") and Bayonne (mintmark "L"). Records show 773,000 forty franc pieces were minted during the reign, compared to 9.13 million twenty franc pieces and 335 million silver five franc pieces.
Specification: 12.90 g, 0.900 fine gold, 26 mm diameter, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE, designed by Joseph François Domard (1792-1858).
Recorded Mintage: 30,901[1] (a scarce date).
Catalog reference: Gad-1106; Fr-557; F.546/11, KM 747.1.
- 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]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies. Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
- [2]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 124, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2015.
- Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
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