France 1846-A 5 francs
This specimen was lot 1203 in Sincona sale 6 (Zürich, May 2012), where it sold for 2200 CHF (about US$2,707 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANKREICH Louis Philippe. 1830-1848. 5 Francs 1846, Paris. Patina. FDC. (France, Louis Philippe, five francs of 1846, Paris mint. Toned, uncirculated.)"
This writer is puzzled as to why this common issue realized such a stupendous hammer price. The silver five francs of Louis Philippe (1830-48) were issued in massive quantities from numerous mints. Le Franc[1] 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 sub-type (1844-48) comprises 19 date and mintmark combinations, some very rare. 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: 5,535,528.
Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver; this specimen is 25,09 g.
Catalog reference: Dav-91; F.325/10, KM 749.1, Gad-678a.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- 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.
- Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
- [1]Numismatic Coins, Medals, Banknotes & Books: Auction 6, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2012.
- George Sobin, Jr., The Silver Crowns of France, 1640-1973. Teaneck, NJ: Richard Margolis, 1974.
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