France 1845-BB 50 centimes
This specimen was lot 30933 in Heritage sale 3073 (Chicago, April 2019), where it sold for $1,200. The catalog description[1] noted, "Louis Philippe I 50 Centimes 1845-BB MS63 NGC, Strasbourg mint. A very scarce mint for this date, this example represents the very finest that we could any recent record of. This is supported by the PCGS and NGC populations, where this coin remains the only specimen certified in Mint condition." All fifty centimes of the reign of Louis Philippe are of this type, which is common. It replaced the French half franc piece of 1831-45 (F.182) and was demonetized in 1869. This rare date is priced eleven times the common date (1845-B). An 1845-BB demi-franc also exists and is slightly more available tho not common. Large and small bee privy marks exist.
Recorded mintage: 43,747[2].
Specification: 2.5 g, 0.900 fine silver, 18 mm diameter, reeded edge.
Catalog reference: F.183/3, KM 768.3.
- 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.
- [2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3073, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
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