France AN12-H 5 francs Dav-83
This specimen was lot 71275 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2025), where it sold for $840. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. Empire. 5 Francs, Year 12-H (1803/4). La Rochelle Mint. Napoleon I. PCGS VF-25. A fairly SCARCE initial emission featuring Napoleon as emperor, this wholesome crown offers a plumb-gray hue and surfaces that remain largely without issue. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Wade Hinderling at New Orleans ANA on 29 July 1981 for $150). Ex: Rudolph Tiktin Collection (Sotheby's New York - 7/1981) Lot # 257." Year 12 (1803-04) represents the first year all the silver and gold denominations appeared. The various designs of Napoleonic five francs form eight distinct types of which this is the third, struck 1803-04 (AN 12) with a complete set of this type comprising thirteen date and mintmark combinations, some very rare. It was officially withdrawn from circulation in 1928 and demonetized in 2005 but ceased to circulate in France after World War One.
Recorded mintage: 14,741[2], a scarce date, plus 69,939 of the Premier Consul type (F.301/15).
Specification: 37 mm diameter, 25 grams, 0.900 fine silver, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE. Designed by Pierre Joseph Tiolier, 1763-1819.
Catalog reference: Dav-83, F.302/4, KM-660.4; Gad-579.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
- George Sobin, Jr., The Silver Crowns of France, 1640-1973. Teaneck, NJ: Richard Margolis, 1974.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, September 2025 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, including Selections from the Richard Margolis Collection and Selections from the L.E. Bruun Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
Link to:
- L'AN 11-A 5 francs
- L'AN 11-K 5 francs
- L'AN 11-L 5 francs
- L'AN 11-MA 5 francs
- L'AN 11-Q 5 francs
- An XI 5 francs, visit of Napoleon to the mint
- An XI-A 5 francs
- An XI-D 5 francs
- An XI-L 5 francs "Napoleon"
- An XI-MA 5 francs "Napoleon"
- An XI-T 5 francs "Napoleon"
- An 12-A ¼ franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-BB ¼ franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-I ¼ franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-MA ¼ franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-T ¼ franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-H ¼ franc, Empereur
- An 12-I ¼ franc, Empereur
- An 12-K ¼ franc, Empereur
- An 12-M ¼ franc, Empereur
- An 12-T ¼ franc, Empereur
- An 12-A ½ franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-BB ½ franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-D ½ franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-G ½ franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-H ½ franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-I ½ franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-K ½ franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-L ½ franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-MA ½ franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-T ½ franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-U ½ franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-A ½ franc, Empereur
- An 12-BB ½ franc, Empereur
- An 12-H ½ franc, Empereur
- An 12-I ½ franc, Empereur
- An 12-K ½ franc, Empereur
- An 12-T ½ franc, Empereur
- An 12-A franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-BB franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-G franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-H franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-I franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-K franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-L franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-MA franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-T franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-U franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-W franc, Premier Consul
- An 12-A franc, Empereur
- An 12-B franc, Empereur
- An 12-H franc, Empereur
- An 12-I franc, Empereur
- An 12-K franc, Empereur
- An 12-M franc, Empereur
- An 12-Q franc, Empereur
- An 12-T franc, Empereur
- An 12-A 2 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-BB 2 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-G 2 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-H 2 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-I 2 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-K 2 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-L 2 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-M 2 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-MA 2 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-Q 2 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-T 2 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-W 2 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-A 2 francs, Empereur
- An 12-B 2 francs, Empereur
- An 12-BB 2 francs, Empereur
- An 12-K 2 francs, Empereur
- An 12-L 2 francs, Empereur
- An 12-M 2 francs, Empereur
- An 12-T 2 francs, Empereur
- An 12-A 5 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-B 5 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-BB 5 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-D 5 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-G 5 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-H 5 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-I 5 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-K 5 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-L 5 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-M 5 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-MA 5 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-Q 5 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-T 5 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-U 5 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-W 5 francs, Premier Consul
- An 12-A 5 francs, Empereur
- An 12-B 5 francs, Empereur
- An 12-D 5 francs, Empereur
- An 12-I 5 francs, Empereur
- An 12-L 5 francs, Empereur
- An 12-M 5 francs, Empereur
- An 12-Q 5 francs, Empereur
- An 12-T 5 francs, Empereur
- An 12-A 20 francs d'or, Premier Consul
- An 12-A 20 francs d'or, Empereur
- An 12-A 40 francs d'or
- Coins and currency dated 1803