France 1873-A 50 centimes
This specimen was lot 22156 in Ponterio sale 169 (Baltimore, November 2012), where it sold for $100. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. 50 Centimes, 1873-A. PCGS MS-64 Secure Holder." A complete set of this type comprises 16 date and mintmark combinations. The entire production run, 1871-95, totaled about 34.4 million pieces. Only two mints struck this type: Paris ("A") and Bordeaux ("K", 1871-73 only). This date is common. It was demonetized in 2005 but ceased to circulate in the 1920's.
Recorded mintage: 1,023,638.
Specification: 2.5 g, 0.835 fine silver, 18 mm diameter, reeded edge. It was designed by Eugène André Oudiné, 1810-1887. This head of Cérès was originally used on the 50 centimes of 1849-51.
Catalog reference: KM-834.1; Gad-419a, F.189/5.
- 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.
- [2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc IX: Les Monnaies. Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2012.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, Ponterio sale 169: The November 2012 Baltimore Auction, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers, LLC, 2012.
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