France 1858-BB 100 francs
This specimen was lot 23571 in Heritage sale 3030 (New York, January 2014), where it sold for $1,880. The catalog description[1] noted, "Napoleon III gold 100 Francs 1858-BB, AU55 NGC, lustrous surfaces with typical small contact marks, quite attractive for the grade assigned. Scarce date/mint with only 1,928 minted." Eight dates comprise a set of this type, which was struck 1855-59. Despite the short run, this is the commonest of the three types of large gold hundred francs, and XF-AU specimens can be had for little over their bullion value.
Recorded mintage: 1,926 reported but probably more[2].
Specification: 32.26 g, 0.900 fine gold, 35 mm diameter, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE, designed by Jean-Jacques Barré (1793-1855).
Catalog reference: Fr-569, Gadoury-262, KM 786.2, F.550/6.
- 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.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3030, featuring the RLM Collection, the Isaac Rudman Collection, the Hans Cook Collection and the Collection of Donald E. Bently, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.
- [2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2013.
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