Monneron Freres 1792 5 sols KM-Tn30

from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale, lot 43140

from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale, lot 43139

from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale, lot 43142

The first specimen was lot 43140 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $780. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE. Constitution. Bronze 5 Sols Token, Year III/1792. Birmingham (Soho) Mint. PCGS MS-63 Brown. Lettered (Départements) edge. By A. Dupré for the Monneron Brothers. Vibrant and rich red-brown surfaces highlight this Choice specimen that is actually quite RARE. About this type, Margolis, in his 1988 article entitled "Matthew Boulton's French Ventures of 1791 and 1792; Tokens for the Monneron Frères of Paris and Isle de France," also writes that--
"On 11 January 1792 Dr Swediaur, writing from Calais on his return journey to Paris, informed Boulton that the National Assembly had just decreed that the fourth year of Liberty should commence as from the beginning of 1792. He therefore requested a change in the dating of the tokens from L'AN III to L'AN IV. This was quickly done, and as a result the 1792, Year III type was struck for circulation for a very brief time; consequently, it is the scarcest major variety of the regular issue five sols token. In contrast, some seventy tons of the Year IV variety were eventually produced." From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Albuquerque on 30 October 1986). Ex: Cabinet Numismatique [Françoise Albuquerque] (10/1986) Lot # 276."

The second specimen was lot 43139 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $15,600. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"Stunning & Exceptionally Rare Monneron 5 Sols in Silver, FRANCE. Constitution. Silver 5 Sols Token, Year III/1792. Birmingham (Soho) Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-64. Lettered (Départements) edge. By A. Dupré for the Monneron Brothers. An EXTREMELY RARE striking in silver, Margolis mentions this issue in his 1988 article entitled "Matthew Boulton's French Ventures of 1791 and 1792; Tokens for the Monneron Frères of Paris and Isle de France" in the British Numismatic Journal, in which he writes that--
"In December 1791 new dies were prepared for the five sols token, dated 1792 and the Year III of Liberty (pl. 31, 8). These dies were evidently employed prior to 1792, as Boulton's letter of 26 December 1791 to the Monnerons states, 'I intend to strike off tomorrow some dozen of gilt, some of silver and some bronzed, from the 5 Sols dies...' The Soho Mint Coinage Day Book for 1791 reveals that twenty-four silver and thirty-six gilt copper specimens of the five sols were sent to Paris via Dr. Swediaur a few days later, and the evidence of surviving examples proves that these were the 1792, L'AN III types. It should be emphasized that the majority of the extremely rare silver specimens of various Monneron tokens and medals are original strikings, intended for sale and/or presentation purposes by the Monnerons."

This specimen represents the only such occurrence of the type across both major grading services, and is finer than the one other observed to have crossed the auction block over the past quarter century--that example being a raw of AU-quality, and with some scratches upon the reverse, and which realized a total of €6,600 in March 2024. This example, however, remains intensely attractive, with great near-Gem quality and some scattered amber-violet-dominated toning upon the obverse. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Kagin's in Milwaukee on 9 August 1986). Ex: Kagin's [ANA] (9/1986) Lot # 5731."

The third specimen was lot 43142 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $4,560. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE. Constitution. Gilt Bronze 5 Sols Token, Year III/1792. Birmingham (Soho) Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-64. Maz-146 var. (Year IV). Lettered (Départements) edge. By A. Dupré for the Monneron Brothers. EXCEPTIONALLY RARE as a gilt striking, especially with "L'AN III" rather than "L'AN IV," this stunner resides at the precipice of perfection, yielding vibrant olive-yellow surfaces, a majestic strike, and enchanting brilliance radiating throughout. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Keller on 22 March 1995). Ex: Phil Keller Collection (acquired from Randolph Zander). Ex: Virgil M. Brand Collection (as "Ferrari-Brand," Schulman - ca. 1932) # 3102. Ex: O. P. Eklund Collection."

This token was also struck dated "L'AN IV" (KM Tn31), which variety is rather more common.

Recorded mintage: unknown number in bronze plus 24 in silver.

Specification: bronze, the first specimen 32.20 g; the second specimen silver, 35.06 g, the third specimen gilt bronze, 30.52 g.

Catalog reference: KM Tn30 (bronze), KM Tn30a (silver), Maz-143; Guilloteau-290; Margolis (1988), pl. 31, 8 (this coin cited and illustrated).

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).
Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
^[1]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.
Guilloteau, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, Colonies 1670-1942 et Metropole 1774-1942, Versailles, 1942.

Link to:

Monneron Freres 1792 5 sols KM-Tn30

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