France 1939 5 francs KM-888
This specimen was lot 1826 in Jean Elsen sale 154 (Brussels, March 2023), where it sold for €2,600 (about US$3,366 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Troisième République (1871-1940), 5 francs, 1939. Type Lavrillier en nickel. Extrêmement rare. Petits défauts de flan et coups sur la tranche. Très Beau. (France, Third Republic, 1871-1940, five francs of 1939, Lavrillier type in nickel. Extremely rare, minor planchet defects and rim nicks, Very Fine.)"
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 It was superseded by an aluminum-bronze coin of the same design, struck 1938-40 and 1945-47.
Recorded mintage: 157,700. Le Franc notes this date is normally not found worn, suggesting that it was never officially released.
Specification: 12 g, pure nickel (magnetic), 31 mm diameter, plain edge, designed by André Henri Lavrillier (1885-1958).
Catalog reference: KM 888, F.336/8, 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.
- [2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies. Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 154, Trouvaille de Labuissière, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2023.
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