France 1870-A 2 francs
This specimen is a slightly better date of a series struck 1870-95 during the French Third Republic. This "Cérès head" design is a revival of a type struck 1849-51 during the Second Republic. It was superseded by the "Semeuse" type of 1898-1920. It was officially withdrawn from circulation in 1928 and demonetized in 2005 but ceased to circulate after World War One. The 1870-A is also known with the "Sans Légende" reverse, which is much scarcer. Large and small mintmarks are also recorded, believed to be of roughly equal rarity.
Recorded mintage: 789,310[1], 1,324,000[2].
Specification: 10 g, 0.835 fine silver, .289 troy oz AGW, 27 mm diameter, reeded edge, revival of a design by Eugéne André Oudiné (1810-87).
Catalog reference: F.265/1, KM 817.1.
- [2]Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
Link to:
- 1869-A 2 francs
- 1869-BB 2 francs "laureate head"
- 1870-A centime
- 1870-A 10 centimes
- 1870-BB franc "laureate head"
- 1870-K 2 francs
- 1870-A 5 francs legend on reverse
- 1870-A 5 francs Napoleon III
- 1870-A 5 francs no legend on reverse
- 1870-A 5 francs, Hercules
- 1870-BB 5 francs, Napoleon III
- 1870-K 5 francs
- 1870-BB 20 francs d'or
- 1871-A 2 francs with legend
- Switzerland 1878-B 2 francs
- Coins and currency dated 1870