France 1933 5 francs KM-888
This specimen is one of a type struck 1933-39 for France at the Paris mint. Of the six dates issued, two are common (1933 and 1935), two are tough (1937 and 1938) and two are very rare (1936 and 1939--counterfeits exist of these dates). It was superseded by an aluminum-bronze coin of the same design, struck 1938-40 and 1945-47. This issue consumed 680 metric tons of nickel, soon to be a vital strategic metal during World War Two. The third specimen was lot 1589 in Jean Elsen sale 153 (Brussels, December 2022), where it sold for €26,000 (about US$32,875 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Troisième République (1871-1940), 5 francs, 1933. Essai de Lavrillier en or. Gad-760 (non répertorié). 17,50 g. De la plus haute rareté. Probablement unique. Fines griffes. Traces de test sur la tranche. Superbe. (France, Third Republic, 1871-1940, five francs of 1933, pattern by Lavrillier in gold. Extremely rare, probably unique, fine scratches. Test marks on the edge, Extremely Fine)"
Recorded mintage: 56,686,410.
Specification: 12 g, nickel, 31 mm diameter, plain edge, engraved by André-Henri Lavrillier.
Catalog reference: F.336/2, KM-888; Gad-760.
- 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.
- Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 153, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2022.
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