France 1839-W 5 francs
This specimen was lot 1066 in Jean Elsen sale 162 (Brussels, June 2025), where it sold for €110 (about US$153 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Louis-Philippe (1830-1848), AR 5 francs, 1839 W, Lille. (kingdom of France, Louis Philippe, 1830-48, silver five francs of 1839, Lille mint. about Extremely Fine.)"
The silver five francs of Louis Philippe (1830-48) were issued in massive quantities from numerous mints. Le Franc[2] estimates a total of 335 million were made, counting all sub-types. This issue, from the Lille 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: 2,993,067, a common date.
Specification: 37 mm diameter, 25 grams, 0.900 fine silver, lettered edge.
Catalog reference: F.324/83, KM-749.13, Gad-678, Dav-91.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
- George Sobin, Jr., The Silver Crowns of France, 1640-1973. Teaneck, NJ: Richard Margolis, 1974.
- 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 162: Collection Jacques Druart, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2025.
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