France 1978 1/2 franc
This specimen was lot 73706 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2022), where it sold for $2,040. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. Gold 1/2 Franc Piefort, 1978. Paris Mint. NGC PROOF-68. This RARE piefort issue entrances with reflective surfaces and a nearly flawless character that shimmers like the sun." This half franc was struck by the Fifth Republic 1965-2001. Most dates are readily available, altho the 1979-82, 1988-90, 1998-99 and 2001 were struck only for the collector sets. The off metal strikes are, of course, rare.
Recorded mintage: 63,360,000 for circulation plus 141 gold pieforts.
Specification: circulation issue: 4.5 g, nickel, 19.5 mm diameter, reeded edge.
Catalog reference: circulation issue: KM 931.1, nickel piedfort: KM P605; silver piefort: KM P606; gold piefort: KM-P607; Fr-Unlisted.
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The February 2022 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancients & World Coins, Featuring Selections from the Kings Norton Mint Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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