France 1902 2 francs
This specimen is a better date of a series struck 1898-1920 during the Third Republic. This type, known as "La Semeuse," superseded the "Cérès head" design of 1870-95. It was officially withdrawn from circulation in 1928 and demonetized in 2005 but ceased to circulate after World War One. All were struck at the Paris mint except for a few struck at Castelsarrasin in 1914. "La Semeuse" also appeared on contemporary fifty centimes and one franc coins; she was so popular than she was revived for the coinage of the Fifth Republic (1959-99). This specimen was lot 1603 in Jean Elsen sale 116 (Brussels, March 2013), where it sold for €360 (about US$547 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Troisième République (1871-1940), AR 2 francs, 1902, Semeuse. Belle patine au droit. presque Fleur de Coin (France, Third Republic (1870-1940), silver two francs of 1902, Semeuse type. handsome toning on the obverse, about uncirculated.)"
Recorded mintage: 2,000,000[2].
Specification: 10 g, 0.835 fine silver, .289 troy oz AGW, 27 mm diameter, reeded edge, designed by Louis Oscar Roty (1846-1911).
Catalog reference: F.266/7, KM 845.1, Gad-532.
- Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 116, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2013.
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