France L'AN4-A decime KM-637.1
This French type was stamped An 4 (1795-96) over a double décime. The first attempt to issue copper coinage in An 4 was a failure as the coins (five centimes, décime and double décime) were rejected as too small. The décimes were restruck into five centimes and the double décimes were restruck into décimes. As an expedient, some double décimes had the "2" on the reverse filed off and an "un" stamped over. This type, shown here, is nearly always in low grade. Décimes were struck until the year 9. The second specimen was lot 1016 in Jean Elsen sale 162 (Brussels, June 2025), where it sold for €180 (about US$250 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Directoire (1795-1799), Cu 1 décime, an 4 A, Paris. Contremarqué sur 2 décimes. Coup au revers. (France, Directory, 1795-99, copper one decime of the year 4, Paris mint, countermarked over a two decimes. Reverse nick, Very Fine.)"
Recorded mintage: 3,617,156 (small module) plus 537,500 counterstamped.
Specification: 20 g, bronze, 31 mm diameter, decorated edge, designed by Augustin Dupré, the second specimen is 19,48 g.
Catalog reference: F.127/1, KM 637.1, Gad-186.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
- Guilloteau, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, Colonies 1670-1942 et Metropole 1774-1942, Versailles, 1942.
- Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 162: Collection Jacques Druart, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2025.
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