France 1859-A franc

from the Mountain Groan Collection

This issue, from the Paris mint, is a common date of a type struck 1853-63 during the régime of Napoleon III. This "tête nue" design, by J. J. Barre, was replaced in 1864 by the "tête laurée" type, which was of lower fineness. It was demonetized in 1869.

Recorded mintage: 3,827,495.

Specification: 5 g, 0.835 fine silver, .144 troy oz AGW, 23 mm diameter, reeded edge, designed by Albert Désiré Barré (1818-1878).

Catalog reference: KM 779.1, Gad-460, F.214/12.

Source:

• 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.

Link to:

• 1858-A franc
• 1859-A 20 centimes
• 1859-A 50 centimes
• 1859-BB franc
• 1859-A 2 francs
• 1859-A silver 5 francs
• 1859-A gold 5 francs
• 1859-BB gold 5 francs
• 1859-A 10 francs
• 1859-BB 10 francs
• 1859-A 20 francs
• 1859-BB 20 francs
• 1859-BB 20 francs
• 1859-A 50 francs d'or
• 1859-BB 50 francs d'or
• 1859-A 100 francs
• 1859-BB 100 francs d'or
• 1860-A franc
• 1860-BB franc
• Coins and currency dated 1859
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