France 1812-M 1/2 franc
This specimen was part of lot 71364 in Stack's Bowers June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2026), which sold for $390.40. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. Empire. Octet of Demi-Francs (1/2 Franc) (8 Pieces), 1812-14. Napoleon I. Grade Range: FINE to VERY FINE. 1) 1812-D, Lyon. VERY FINE. 2) 1812-H, La Rochelle. FINE. 3) 1812-L, Bayonne. VERY FINE. Scratched. 4) 1812-M, Toulouse. VERY FINE. Scratched. 5) 1813-H, La Rochelle. FINE. 6) 1813-L, Bayonne. VERY FINE. 7) 1813-W, Lille. VERY FINE. Cleaned. 8) 1814-M, Toulouse. VERY FINE. Cleaned. SOLD AS IS/NO RETURNS. From the Richard Margolis Collection." This dime-sized coin was struck at Toulouse under the régime of Napoleon as emperor. The type was struck 1809-14 and is the most available of the Napoleonic demi-francs. It was demonetized in 1869. The catalog[2] notes 65 dates for the type, some very rare.
Recorded mintage: 104,748[2] (104,850 per the SCWC), a slightly better date.
Specification: 2.5 g, 0.900 fine silver, 18 mm diameter, decorated edge, designed by Pierre Joseph Tiolier.
Catalog reference: Gad-399, F.178/42, KM 691.10.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- 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.
- [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, June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction - Selections from the L.E. Bruun Collection, the Richard Margolis Collection and the Kirk Menczer Collection of Republican Reales Minors, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2026.
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- 1811-D ½ franc
- 1811-K ½ franc
- 1811-L ½ franc
- 1811-Q ½ franc
- 1811-T ½ franc
- 1811-U ½ franc
- 1811-W ½ franc
- 1812-A ½ franc
- 1812-B ½ franc
- 1812-D ½ franc
- 1812-H ½ franc
- 1812-I ½ franc
- 1812-K ½ franc
- 1812-L ½ franc
- 1812-MA ½ franc
- 1812-Q ½ franc
- 1812-T ½ franc
- 1812-flag ½ franc
- 1812-W demi-franc
- 1812-A franc
- 1812-B franc
- 1812-BB franc
- 1812-D franc
- 1812-H franc
- 1812-I franc
- 1812-MA franc
- 1812-R franc
- 1812-W franc
- 1812-flag franc
- 1812-A 2 francs
- 1812-B 2 francs
- 1812-BB 2 francs
- 1812-H 2 francs
- 1812-I 2 francs
- 1812-K 2 francs
- 1812-L 2 francs
- 1812-MA 2 francs
- 1812-Q 2 francs
- 1812-T 2 francs
- 1812-W 2 francs
- 1812-flag 2 francs
- 1812-A 5 francs
- 1812-B 5 francs
- 1812-BB 5 francs
- 1812-D 5 francs
- 1812-H 5 francs
- 1812-I 5 francs
- 1812-K 5 francs
- 1812-L 5 francs
- 1812-M 5 francs
- 1812-MA 5 francs
- 1812-Q 5 francs
- 1812-R 5 francs
- 1812-T 5 francs
- 1812-U 5 francs
- 1812-W 5 francs
- 1812-flag 5 francs
- 1812-A 20 francs d'or
- 1812-K 20 francs d'or
- 1812-L 20 francs d'or
- 1812-M 20 francs d'or
- 1812-Q 20 francs d'or
- 1812-R 20 francs d'or
- 1812-U 20 francs d'or
- 1812-W 20 francs
- 1812-A 40 francs d'or
- 1812-W 40 francs d'or
- 1813-A ½ franc
- 1813-D ½ franc
- 1813-H ½ franc
- 1813-L ½ franc
- 1813-M ½ franc
- 1813-Q ½ franc
- 1813-W ½ franc
- Coins and currency dated 1812