France 1810-L 2 francs

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Stack's Bowers September 2025 Collectors Choice sale, lot 71356
SB925-71356r.jpg
Stack's Bowers September 2025 Collectors Choice sale, lot 71357
SB925-71357r.jpg

The first specimen was lot 71356 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2025), where it sold for $312. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. Empire. 2 Francs, 1810-L. Bayonne Mint. Napoleon I. PCGS VF-20. Variety with mintmark on the right. The only example of the type in the PCGS population report, this wholesome yet fairly well circulated specimen offers a charming overall appearance. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Mike Geen at NYINC on 12 December 1980 for $100)." The second specimen was lot 71357 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2025), where it sold for $456. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. Empire. 2 Francs, 1810-L. Bayonne Mint. Napoleon I. PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, Fine Details. Variety with mintmark on the left. A well circulated and cleaned example of the emission. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Superior in 1996 for $27.50). Ex: Superior (6/1996) Lot # 3577." This type was struck 1809-14 during the reign of Napoleon I from numerous mints. This date is known with the mintmark on the right and the mintmark on the left; the Margolis collection had both, which we show here.

Recorded mintage: 2,489 of F.255/17 plus 29,588 of F.255/18[2].

Specification: 27 mm diameter, 10 grams, 0.900 fine silver, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE. Designed by Pierre Joseph Tiolier, 1763-1819.

Catalog reference: F.255/17 (privy mark left), F.255/18 (privy mark right), KM-693.9; Gad-501.

Sources:

  • Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
  • Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
  • [2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
  • [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, September 2025 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, including Selections from the Richard Margolis Collection and Selections from the L.E. Bruun Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.

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