France 1900 2 centimes

from Stack's Bowers October 2020 Collector's Choice sale, lot 71461

This specimen was lot 71461 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, October 2020), where it sold for $204. The catalog description^[1] noted, "FRANCE. 2 Centimes, 1900. Paris Mint. PCGS MS-63 Brown Gold Shield. Tied for finest certified of the date with two other example of the Brown designation on the PCGS population report. A nicely preserved and attractive example with hints of original mint red on the reverse in the protected areas." The specimen shown is a two centimes, Marianne head, of a type struck under the Third Republic of France 1897-1920. All are Paris mint issues. The 1900 is a rare date. The total production for the series is about 23 million, compared to ten million Cérès head two centimes (1877-97). All the bronze two centimes pieces were demonetized in 1940.

Recorded mintage: 100,802 plus a few matte proofs.

Specification: 2 g, bronze, 20 mm diameter, plain edge, designed by Jean-Baptiste Daniel-Dupuis (1849-99).

Catalog reference: F.110/4, Gad-107; KM-841.

Sources:

• 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.
• Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
• ^[1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The October 2020 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.

Link to:

• 1899 2 centimes
• 1900 centime
• 1900 5 centimes
• 1900 10 centimes
• 1900 50 centimes
• 1900 2 francs
• 1900 10 francs d'or
• 1900 20 francs d'or
• 1900-A 50 francs
• 1900-A 100 francs
• 1901 2 centimes
• Coins and currency dated 1900
• return to Decimal coinage of France (1795-2001)