France 1965 10 francs
This specimen is a common date of a type struck at the Paris mint 1965-73. The mint's attempt to circulate a silver five francs in 1960-65 having proved a failure, they tried again with this silver ten francs which was also massively hoarded. The coin is very rare in circulated condition tho bumps, scratches and hairlines are common. The design is a near clone of the Union et Force five francs minted in during the first Republic of France. The second specimen was lot 32172 in Heritage sale 3105 (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $16,800. The catalog description[1] noted, "France: Republic gold Proof Piefort 10 Francs 1965 PR67 Ultra Cameo NGC, Paris mint. A forerunner to the later 50 Francs issues, this substantial gold Piefort is the first date of these sought-after types, one whose star has risen in recent years as more and more come to market. Embellished by a rich and wholly deserving 'Ultra Cameo' designation via deep and reflective expanses and frosted devices. One of only four currently certified at NGC and worthy of bids consistent with that fact." Pieforts were also struck in silver (KM P356).
Recorded mintage: 8,085,500.
Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver, 37 mm diameter, .723 troy oz ASW, decorated edge, after a design by Augustin Dupré (1748-1833).
Catalog reference: F.364/3, KM 932. The second specimen is KM-P357, GEM-183.P2.
- 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]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, 2023 January 9 NYINC World & Ancient Coins Platinum Session and Signature® Auction - New York #3105, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2022.
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