France 1871-A 5 francs

Heritage sale 3024, lot 23904

This specimen was lot 23904 in Heritage sale 3024 (Chicago, April 2013), where it sold for $881.25. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Republic 5 Francs 1871-A Trident, MS61 NGC, lightly toned with considerable mint luster, noticeable contact marks in the exposed fields. Very scarce type with the Trident symbol, issued by the Commune." A complete set of this type comprises 24 date and mintmark combinations. The entire production run, 1871-78, totaled about 73 million pieces. Only two mints struck this type: Paris ("A") and Bordeaux ("K"). This date is scarce but not rare, being struck by the Paris Commune which briefly seized control of the capital during the Franco-Prussian War. It was demonetized in 2005 but ceased to circulate in the 1920's.

Recorded mintage: 237,906 (bee privy mark) plus 256,410 (trident privy mark)^[2].

Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver, .7234 troy oz AGW, 37 mm diameter, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE, after a design by Augustin Dupré (1748-1833).

Catalog reference: KM-823; Gad-745A, F.334/3, Dav-92.

Source:

Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
^[2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies. Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
^[1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3024, featuring the Kairos and Elizabeth McPhall Charters Collections, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.
George Sobin, Jr., The Silver Crowns of France, 1640-1973. Teaneck, NJ: Richard Margolis, 1974.

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France 1871-A 5 francs

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