France 1855-A 5 francs d'or
The regime of Napoleon III benefitted from increasing prosperity in France in the 1850's. The influx of gold from California raised silver prices, so the regime decided to issue gold five francs alongside the traditional silver five francs. The first issue of 1854 had a plain edge. Later in the year, the design was revised to add a reeded edge and 2,870,170 more were struck of that variety and 936,136 more in 1855 (shown here). At the very end of 1855, the design was revised once again to increase the diameter to 17 mm, which type was produced until 1860. Gold five francs were struck until 1868. The second specimen was lot 1926 in Jean Elsen sale 160 (Brussels, November 2024), where it sold for €160 (about US$203 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Napoléon III (1852-1870), AV 5 francs, 1855 A, Paris. Petit module. Tranche cannelée. Gad-1000; Fr-578. Rare. presque Très Beau. (empire of France, Napoleon III, gold five francs of 1855, Paris mint, small module, reeded edge. Rare, about very fine.)"
Recorded mintage: 936,176 plus 1,346 of the 17 mm variety.
Specification: 1.61 g, 0.900 fine gold, 14 mm diameter, reeded edge, designed by Jacques-Jean Barré.
Catalog reference: Fr-578; KM-783; Gad-1000, F.500A/2.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- 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]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 160, Collection de deniers liegeois et Collection de monnaies d'or francaises, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2024.
Link to:
- 1854-A gold 5 francs
- 1855-D centime
- 1855-A 2 centimes
- 1855-BB 2 centimes
- 1855-D 2 centimes
- 1855-K 2 centimes
- 1855-A 5 centimes
- 1855-D 5 centimes
- 1855-MA 5 centimes
- 1855-W 5 centimes
- 1855-A 10 centimes
- 1855-BB 10 centimes
- 1855-MA 10 centimes
- 1855-A 20 centimes
- 1855-A 50 centimes
- 1855-A franc
- 1855-A silver 5 francs
- 1855-A gold 5 francs, 17 mm diameter
- 1855-BB 5 francs
- 1855-A 10 francs
- 1855-BB 10 francs d'or
- 1855-A 20 francs d'or
- 1855-BB 20 francs d'or
- 1855-D 20 francs d'or
- 1855-A 50 francs d'or
- 1855-BB 50 francs d'or
- 1855-A 100 francs d'or
- 1855-BB 100 francs d'or
- 1856-A gold 5 francs
- Coins and currency dated 1855
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