France L'AN 7-A 5 francs
This specimen was lot 1237 in Jean Elsen sale 145 (Brussels, September 2020), where it sold for €750 (about US$1,069 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Directoire (1795-1799), AR 5 francs, an 7A, Paris. Union et Force. Belle patine. Léger coup sur la tranche. presque Superbe. (Directory of France, 1795-99, five francs, year 7, Paris mint. Nice patina, light edge bump, about Extremely Fine.)"
This specimen shown was struck during the Consulate (1799-1804) and was meant to replace the écu of the ancien régime after the execution of king Louis XVI. The Gregorian calendar was replaced by the revolutionary calendar. Year 7, shown here, comprised September 1798 thru September 1799. This "Hercules" type was struck until year 11 (1802-03) from numerous mints, tho only Paris is known for year 4. Le Franc[2] has reanalyzed the type, assigning it catalog numbers 287 thru 300, depending on the position of the obverse legend ("UNION ET FORCE"), the details of the oak wreath on the reverse and so forth. As each die was hand made, the varieties are as numerous as those of United States bust half dollars or early large cents. Overdates and repunched mintmarks and privy marks are common. The type was produced in the millions and is not rare in low grades but the price ascends rapidly with grade.
Recorded mintage: 2,655,931 including year 7/6 and other varieties.
Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver, edge lettered GARANTIE NATIONALE, designed by Augustin Dupré (1748-1833).
Catalog reference: Dav-1337; Gad-563; F.287/27.
- Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
- [2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed. London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 145, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2020.
- George Sobin, Jr., The Silver Crowns of France, 1640-1973. Teaneck, NJ: Richard Margolis, 1974.
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