Monneron Freres 1791 2 sols KM-Tn23

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Stack's Bowers 2023 NYINC sale, lot 41132
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from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale, lot 43153
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from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale, lot 43158
SB824-43158r.jpg
from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale, lot 43159
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The first specimen was lot 41132 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $100. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. Constitution Period. 2 Sols, 1791. Soho (Birmingham) Mint. NGC MS-62 Brown." The second specimen was lot 43153 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $456. The catalog description[2] noted,

"FRANCE. Constitution. Bronze 2 Sols Token, Year III/1791. Birmingham (Soho) Mint. PCGS MS-63 Brown. Variety with '50 L' and 'ROUEN.' Lettered edge. By M. Boulton & N.-A. Ponthon for the Monneron Brothers. Mostly a rich and vibrant brown in hue, with some glints of red highlighting the devices. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Zander on 29 September 1956). Ex: Randolph Zander FPL 26 (9/1956) Lot # 421."

The third specimen was lot 43158 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $2,640. The catalog description[1] noted,

"FRANCE. Constitution. Gilt Bronze 2 Sols Token, Year III/1791. Birmingham (Soho) Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-62. Variety with "50 L. (dot below)" and "ROUEN." By M. Boulton & N.-A. Ponthon for the Monneron Brothers. About this VERY RARE and unusual specimen, Margolis writes that it is "...characterized by a nicely gilded edge (the gilding having partially carried over to the rim). A special striking from dies normally reserved for the silver specimen or presentation pieces. It is quite possible that this variety may also exist completely gilt and in ungilded copper as well." From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Superior on 31 May 1989). Ex: Superior Galleries (5/1989) Lot 6788 (part of)."

The fourth specimen was lot 43159 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $6,100. The catalog description[1] noted,

"FRANCE. Constitution. Silver 2 Sols Token, Year III/1791. Birmingham (Soho) Mint. PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, Unc Details. Variety with "50 L. (dot below)" and "ROUEN." Lettered edge. By M. Boulton & N.-A. Ponthon for the Monneron Brothers. A very interesting and EXTREMELY RARE specimen striking in silver, this example does exhibit some noted cleaning, but otherwise stands without any evidence of wear, and has begun to reacquire some color rather well. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from the Farouk Collection in March 1954). Ex: Palace Collections of Egypt [King Farouk] (Sotheby's - 3/1954) Lot # 2173 (part of)."

This specimen is a bronze two sols token issued for the merchants Monneron Freres in Paris in 1791. These were made at the Soho Mint in Birmingham, England, whose steam presses were the only ones capable of striking such large copper coins, especially the accompanying five sols. It is likely that the Soho mint restruck these long after the Revolution was over for sale as souvenirs, as silver off-metal strikes exist. It is not known if this specimen is from 1791 or later. A similar two sols was issued in 1792 with a different reverse legend.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: bronze, the second specimen 18.33 g, the third specimen 17.67 g, the fourth specimen 20.76 g.

Catalog reference: KM-Tn23; Maz-152. The third and fourth specimens are KM Tn23a, Maz-154.

Source:

  • Ciani, Louis, Les Monnaies Royales Françaises de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI, avec indication de leur valuer actuelle, Paris, 1926 (reprinted in Barcelona, 1965).
  • 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.
  • Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
  • [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The January 2023 NYINC Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Taraszka Collection and the Mark and Dottie Salton Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
  • [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2024 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Emilio M. Ortiz Collection, The Richard Margolis Collection and The Rutherford Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.

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