France 1809-W 5 francs

from Jean Elsen sale 134, lot 1750

This issue, from the Lille mint, is a common date of a type struck 1809-15. This type succeeded the "REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE" reverse struck 1807-08. A complete set of this type comprises 95 date and mintmark combinations, some very rare. The entire production run totaled about 127 million pieces. This specimen was lot 1750 in Jean Elsen sale 134 (Brussels, September 2017), where it sold for €300 (about US$424 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[2] noted,

"FRANCE, Napoléon Ier (1804-1814), AR 5 francs, 1809W, Lille. Nettoyé. Traces d'ajustage. Très Beau à Superbe. (empire of France, Napoleon I, 1804-14, silver five francs of 1809, Lille mint. Cleaned, adjustment marks, very fine to extremely fine.)"

It is priced^[1] slightly less than double the common date (1811-A or 1812-A). All silver five francs were officially recalled in 1928 but ceased to circulate after World War I. This coin was legal tender in the United States until 1857 at a value of 93 cents.

Recorded mintage: 1,221,093^[1].

Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver, 37 mm diameter, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE, designed by Pierre Joseph Tiolier.

Catalog reference: F.307/13, Dav-85; KM-694.20; Gad-584.

Source:

Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
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 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
George Sobin, Jr., The Silver Crowns of France, 1640-1973. Teaneck, NJ: Richard Margolis, 1974.
^[2]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 134, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2017..

Link to:

France 1809-W 5 francs

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