France 1806-L 2 francs

Jean Elsen sale 155, lot 1731

This specimen was lot 1731 in Jean Elsen sale 155 (Brussels, June 2023), where it sold for €300 (about US$393 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Napoléon Ier (1804-1814), AR 2 francs, 1806 L, Bayonne. Très Beau. (empire of France, Napoleon I, 1804-14, silver two francs of 1806, Bayonne mint. Very Fine.)"

This type was struck 1806-07 with seventeen different date-mintmark combinations, of which the 1806-A is the only one at all common. The specimen shown is from Bayonne and is scarce. Many issues of this type are known from a handful (<10) of examples. 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.

Recorded mintage: 71,796.

Specification: 27 mm diameter, 10 grams, 0.900 fine silver, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE. Designed by Pierre Joseph Tiolier, 1763-1819.

Catalog reference: F.252/6, Gad-496, KM 658.9.

Source:

• 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]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 155, Collection Marc Bar et Distinctions de Jean-Baptiste Nothomb, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2023.

Link to:

• 1806-A ¼ franc
• 1806-A ½ franc
• 1806-L ½ franc
• 1806-A franc
• 1806-L franc
• 1806-A 2 francs
• 1806-I 2 francs
• 1806-A 5 francs
• 1806-I 5 francs
• 1806-L 5 francs
• 1806-M 5 francs
• 1806-Q 5 francs
• 1806-A 20 francs
• 1806-I 20 francs
• 1806-Q 20 francs
• 1806-U 20 francs
• 1806-W 20 francs
• 1806-A 40 francs
• 1807-A 2 francs
• Coins and currency dated 1806
• return to French two francs coins, AN12-2001