France 1840-BB 5 francs
This specimen was lot 2543 in Stephen Album sale 47 (Santa Rosa, CA, September 2023), where it sold for $90. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE: Louis Philippe, 1830-1848, AR 5 francs, 1840-BB, Strasbourg Mint, NGC graded AU55. WINGS, ex Louis Baptiste Dupont Collection." This specimen, from the Strasbourg mint, is a somewhat scarce date. This design, by Domard, replaced the Tiolier bust type struck 1831 only. Le Franc[2] estimates a total of 335 million were made, counting all sub-types. A complete set of this sub-type (1832-43) comprises 102 date and mintmark combinations, some very rare. All silver five francs were officially recalled in 1928 but ceased to circulate in France after World War I. This coin was legal tender in the United States until 1857 at a value of 93 cents.
Recorded mintage: 1,200,538.
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; F.324/86, KM-749, Gad-678.
- 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.
- 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.
- George Sobin, Jr., The Silver Crowns of France, 1640-1973. Teaneck, NJ: Richard Margolis, 1974.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 47, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2023.
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