Westphalia 1813-C 10 franken
This specimen was lot 975 in Jean Elsen sale 138 (Brussels, September 2018), where it sold for €650 (about US$902 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ALLEMAGNE, WESTPHALIE, Jérôme Napoléon (1807-1813), AV 10 Franken, 1813C, Cassel. Frappe médaille (deutsche Prägung). Rare Petits coups sur la tranche. Légèrement paillé. Très Beau à Superbe. (kingdom of Westphalia, Jerome Napoleon, 1807-13, gold ten franken of 1813, Cassel mint, medal rotation. Rare, minor rim nicks, Very Fine to Extremely Fine.)"
This type was struck 1813 and is scarce. In 1813, the Napoleonic puppet state also struck five and ten thalers, five, twenty franken and forty franken in gold, all rare. Jerome, Napoleon's brother, served him faithfully, stripping his domain of men and money for the Russian campaign. The kingdom collapsed after the battle of Leipzig. At the Congress of Vienna, the area was restored to its former lords, Hannover and Prussia.
Recorded mintage: 1,000. proofs exist.
Specification: 3.23 g, 0.900 fine gold.
Catalog reference: J. 43; A.K.S. 31; Fr-3518; KM 126.1.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 138, Collection A. BLONDEL, Collection M. HENDRICKX, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2018.
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