France 1997 500 francs Fr-709
This specimen was lot 31068 in Heritage auction 3096 (Dallas, TX, March 2021), where it sold for $4,080. The catalog description[1] noted, "France: Republic gold Proof "Michelangelo - David" 500 Francs 1997 PR69 Ultra Cameo NGC, Paris mint. The scarcer date for the two-year commemorative type that depicts Michelangelo's David; tied for finest with one other at NGC. Sold with the original Monnaie de Paris COA. From the Paramount Collection." Starting in the 1980's, the Paris mint issued so many NCLT's that the standard catalogs had to drop them to keep the books a manageable size. This one was struck to honor the famous statue in Florence, Italy and is also denominated 75 euro. A five ounce version of this design also exists (KM 1152).
Recorded mintage: 1,000.
Specification: 31.10 g, 0.999 fine gold, AGW 0.999 oz.
Catalog reference: KM 1151, Fr-709.
- 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.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, The Paramount Collection World & Ancient Coins: Signature Auction 3096, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
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