France 1848-A 5 francs Dav-92
The first specimen was lot 40511 in Ponterio sale 168 (Philadelphia, August 2012), where it sold for $2,070. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. 5 Franc, 1848-A. NGC PROOF-63." This type is commonly called the "Hercules" and was struck 1848-49 at Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon and Strasbourg. It is common in circulated condition. The "Cérès head" was also struck in 1849. It was officially withdrawn from circulation in 1928 and demonetized in 2005 but ceased to circulate after World War One.
Recorded mintage: 16,843,783 plus 3,048,692 for Louis Philippe.
Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver, .7234 troy oz AGW, 37 mm diameter, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE, after a design by Augustin Dupré (1748-1833).
Catalog reference: F.326/1, Dav-92; KM-756.1; Gad-683.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- 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.
- 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]Ponterio, Richard, Ponterio sale 168: The Official ANA Auction, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2012.
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