France 1810-D 2 francs
This type was struck 1809-14 during the reign of Napoleon I from numerous mints. The specimen shown is from Lyon and is a rare date. It is priced[1] about six times the commonest date (1811A) even in Good. Many issues of this type are known from a handful (<10) of examples. The type is not difficult to find but is expensive in high grade. All two francs issued prior to 1859, including this one, were demonetized in 1869 to make way for the succeeding issue which was only 0.835 fine. The second specimen was lot 71353 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2025), where it sold for $384. The catalog description[2] noted, "FRANCE. Empire. 2 Francs, 1810-D. Lyon Mint. Napoleon I. PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, VF Details. Presenting deep gray and plumb hues, this lightly cleaned specimen still retains a great deal of detail throughout. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Lepczyk in March 1984 for $40). Ex: George Sobin Collection (Joseph Lepczyk - 3/1984) Lot # 1247 (part of)."
Specification: 27 mm diameter, 10 grams, 0.900 fine silver, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE. Designed by Pierre Joseph Tiolier, 1763-1819.
Recorded mintage: 18,029[1].
Catalog reference: F.255/13, KM-693.5; Gad-501.
- 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.
- [1]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc VIII: Les Monnaies. Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2009.
- [2]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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