France 1991 2 francs
This specimen was lot 528 in Sincona Auction 103 (Zürich, May 2026), where it sold for 225 CHF (about US$343 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANKREICH Königreich und Republik, 5. Republik, seit 1959. 2 Francs 1991, Paris. Semeuse. Gegenständige Stempelstellung / Frappe monnaie. Sehr seltener Jahrgang. Nur 2'511 Exemplare geprägt. Das neben einem weiteren durch NGC zweithöchstbewertete Exemplar. (France, Fifth Republic, since 1959, two francs of 1991, Paris mint, Semeuse type. Coinage strike, Very rare date. Only 2,511 specimens struck. NGC MS65, Tied with one other for second finest certified by NGC.)"
This type was struck 1979-2001 but only some dates were struck for general distribution (1979-83, 1994, 1996-98 and 2000). All were struck at Pessac, the mint having moved there in 1973. For 1991, Prieur[2] comments, "Ces pièces ont été distribuées à la faciale par la Monnaie de Paris aux associations numismatiques, pour leurs membres...."
Recorded mintage: 2,511 plus 2,500 proofs.
Specification: 7.5 g, nickel, 26.5 mm diameter, reeded edge, this specimen 7.41 g.
Catalog reference: KM 942.1, F.272/15 (circulation) and F.272/16 (proof), Gadoury 547.
- 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]Richter, Jürg, Michael Hardmeier, Michael Otto, Arne Kirsch, Ruedi Kunzmann and Timur Demirai, SINCONA Auction 103: World and Swiss coins and medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2026.
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