France 1847-BB 5 francs

from Stack's Bowers May 2023 Collector's Choice sale, lot 72053

This specimen was lot 72053 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, May 2023), where it sold for $1,200. The catalog description^[1] noted, "FRANCE. 5 Francs, 1847-BB. Strasbourg Mint. Louis Philippe I. PCGS MS-64+. Dusted with iridescent golden-apricot toning complemented by magenta and sapphire accents, this is an exceptionally well preserved and attractive crown. Billowy luster flows over surfaces that are practically full Gem quality, while the strike is sharp to full. Strasbourg minted approximately eight times fewer pieces than Paris in 1847, and this coin is the sole finest PCGS has handled. VERY RARE and intensely desirable for series specialists, as opportunities like these almost never present themselves." 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 Strasbourg mint, is slightly scarce. 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.

Recorded mintage: 1,613,128.

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: F.325/11, Dav-91; KM-749.3; Gad-678A.

Source:

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, February 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, featuring the David Sterling Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.

Link to:

France 1847-BB 5 francs

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