France 1850-A 5 francs
The first specimen was lot 40513 in Ponterio sale 168 (Philadelphia, August 2012), where it sold for $2,990. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. 5 Francs, 1850-A. Dark toned obverse. NGC PROOF-63. From the Madeleine Collection." This type is commonly called the "Cérès head" and was struck 1849-51 at Paris, Bordeaux and Strasbourg. It is common in circulated condition. It was officially withdrawn from circulation in 1928 and demonetized in 2005 but ceased to circulate after World War One.
Recorded mintage: 14,542,699 (most common date).
Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver, .7234 troy oz AGW, 37 mm diameter, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE, designed by Eugene-André Oudiné (1810-87).
Catalog reference: F.327/4, Dav-93; Gad-719, KM-761.1; VF-3258.
- 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.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, Ponterio sale 168: The Official ANA Auction, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2012.
- George Sobin, Jr., The Silver Crowns of France, 1640-1973. Teaneck, NJ: Richard Margolis, 1974.
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