France 1844-A 5 francs
This specimen was lot 73398 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2023), where it sold for $456. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. 5 Francs, 1844-A. Paris Mint. Louis Philippe I. PCGS MS-62. Quite robust and vibrant, this large untoned, nearly-Choice crown glistens with immense radiance, and offers a slight cameo nature through its alluringly frosted devices." The silver five francs of Louis Philippe (1830-48) of France were issued in massive quantities from numerous mints. Much of the silver came from melting down écus of the ancien regime. Le Franc[2] 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 late sub-type (1844-48) comprises 19 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. Altho France once operated several dozen branch mints, by 1845, only Paris (A), Strasbourg (BB), Lille (W) and Bordeaux (K) were still open.
Recorded mintage: 1,970,463[2], a common date.
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-678A, F.325/1.
- 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.
- [2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- George Sobin, Jr., The Silver Crowns of France, 1640-1973. Teaneck, NJ: Richard Margolis, 1974.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, November 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancient & World Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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