France 1808-L 5 francs

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Stack's Bowers 2025 NYINC sale, lot 34094
SB125-34094r.jpg

This specimen was lot 34094 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2025), where it sold for $840. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. Empire. 5 Francs, 1808-L. Bayonne Mint. Napoleon I. PCGS AU-58. Tied with just one other example for the top spot in the PCGS census, this enchanting crown provides an almond-gray hue and hints of pastel iridescence, all while a good deal of original brilliance remains among the protected areas. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Bank Leu in Zurich on 11 September 1972 for $75)." Shown is a Napoleonic five francs struck at the Bayonne mint in 1808. The various designs of Napoleonic five francs form eight distinct types of which this is the sixth, struck 1807-08 with a complete set of this type comprising 16 date and mintmark combinations, some very rare. This date is slightly scarce for the type, being priced double the common date (1808-B). It was officially withdrawn from circulation in 1928 and demonetized in 2005 but ceased to circulate in France after World War One.

Recorded mintage: 143,827[2].

Specification: 25 grams, 0.900 fine silver, 37 mm diameter, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE. Designed by Pierre Joseph Tiolier, 1763-1819.

Catalog reference: Dav-84; Sobin-57; KM-686.8; Gad-583; F.306/9.

Source:

  • Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
  • 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.
  • George Sobin, Jr., The Silver Crowns of France, 1640-1973. Teaneck, NJ: Richard Margolis, 1974.
  • [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, January 2025 NYINC Showcase Auction, featuring the Richard Margolis Collection, Part III, and the Richard August Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.

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