France 1889-A franc
This specimen was lot 1097 in Jean Elsen sale 137 (Brussels, June 2018), where it sold for €2,100 (about US$2,922 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Troisième République (1871-1940), AR 1 franc, 1889A, Paris. Seulement 100 p. frappées. Extrêmement rare Flan poli. Fines griffes. Superbe à Fleur de Coin. (France, Third Republic, 1871-1940, silver franc of 1889, Paris mint. Only 100 pieces struck, Extremely rare, proof, fine scratches, Extremely Fine to Uncirculated.)"
This date was struck only for some proof sets issued on the occasion of a Universal Exposition in Paris. A similar set of proofs were minted in 1878. The other dates of this type are reasonably available.
Recorded mintage: 100, the rarest date along with 1878-A.
Specification: 5 g, 0.835 fine silver, 23 mm diameter, reeded edge. It was designed by Eugène André Oudiné, 1810-1887. This head of Cérès was originally used on the franc of 1849-51.
Catalog reference: Gad-465a, F.216/11, KM 834.1.
- 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.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 137, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2018
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