France 1791-A 2 sols

Jean Elsen sale 103, lot 874

from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale, lot 43076

from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale, lot 43079

from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale, lot 43084

The first specimen was lot 874 in Jean Elsen sale 103 (Brussels, December 2009), where it sold for 100 euro. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Constitution (1791-1792), Cu 2 sols, 1791 A, an 3, Paris. Type FRANCOIS. Droit : B. drapé à gauche. Revers : Faisceau dans une couronne de chêne. Avec A surmonté d'un point. Métal de cloche. Très Beau à Superbe." (France, constitutional period (1791-92), copper 2 sols, 1791-A, year 3 of liberty, Paris mint. FRANCOIS type; obverse: draped bust facing left; reverse: fasces within an oak wreath; mintmark: A surmounted by a point, bell metal composition, Very Fine to Extremely Fine).

The second specimen was lot 43076 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $14,400. The catalog description^[2] noted,

"FRANCE. Constitution. Copper 2 Sols Essai (Pattern), Year 3/1791. Paris Mint. Louis XVI. PCGS SPECIMEN-65 Brown. Plain edge. By A. Dupré. 19.13 g. An engaging and VERY RARE offering of this fantastic specimen striking, here struck in copper, and for which Mazard does not make a distinction between bell metal or copper. Extremely well struck and exceptionally enticing, with mostly chocolate brown surfaces throughout, and some lighter hues of red in a pullaway fashion around the legends. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from the Farouk Collection in March 1954). Ex: Palace Collections of Egypt [King Farouk] (Sotheby's - 3/1954) Lot # 2173 (part of)."

The third specimen was lot 43079 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $6,000. The catalog description^[2] noted,

"FRANCE. Constitution. Brass 2 Sols, Year 3/1791-A. Paris (Barnabite Convent) Mint. Louis XVI. PCGS MS-64. 22.49 g. Margolis posits that this example is a specimen or essai striking on a large planchet with a perfectly plain, smooth edge. VERY RARE so enchanting and enticing. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Joe Powers on 27 January 1970 from his February 1970 "World Coins" advertisement)."

The fourth specimen was lot 43084 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $1,020. The catalog description^[2] noted,

"FRANCE. Constitution. Mint Error -- Struck 25% Off-Center -- 2 Sols, Year 3/[1791-A]. Paris Mint. Louis XVI. PCGS AU-50. Retaining a fair amount of lustrous brilliance, this issue in bell metal offers an olive-brown appearance along with a rather dramatic off-centering of strike. From the Richard Margolis Collection."

This coin was minted at Paris, France, during the throes of the Revolution. 1793 was the year the king was tried and executed. Amid the chaos, large quantities of these copper two sols were issued, along with six and twelve deniers (¼ and ½ sols). The 1791-93 issues bear the bust of the king but his ouster forced the removal of his portrait. This type was hurriedly and crudely made and is rarely found better than Very Good.

Recorded mintage: 10,166,350.

Specification: bronze or metal du cloche; the first specimen 24,15 g.

Catalog reference: Ciani-2249, Duplessy 1722; Gadoury 25, KM 603.1. The second specimen is Maz-101 (R3); Guilloteau-178 var. (bell metal).

Source:

• Ciani, Louis, Les Monnaies Royales Françaises de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI, avec indication de leur valuer actuelle, Paris, 1926 (reprinted in Barcelona, 1965).
• Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
• Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
• ^[1]Elsen, Philippe, Vente Publique 103, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, s.a, 2009.
• Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
• Guilloteau, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, Colonies 1670-1942 et Metropole 1774-1942, Versailles, 1942.
• ^[2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2024 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Emilio M. Ortiz Collection, The Richard Margolis Collection and The Rutherford Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.

Link to:

• 1791-A sol à l'écu
• 1791-D sol à l'écu
• 1791-K sol à l'écu
• 1791-R sol à l'écu
• 1791-W sol à l'écu
• 1791-A 12 deniers
• 1791-AA 12 deniers
• 1791-BB 12 deniers
• 1791-D 12 deniers
• 1791 5 livres, pattern
• 1791-AA 2 sols Constitutionnel
• 1791-B 2 sols Constitutionnel
• 1791-K 2 sols Constitutionnel
• 1791-W 2 sols Constitutionnel
• Monneron Freres 1791 2 sols
• Caisse de Bonne Foy 1791 2 sols 6 deniers token
• Caisse de Bonne Foi (1791) 3 sols token
• 1791-A 15 sols
• 1791-AA 15 sols
• 1791-H 15 sols
• 1791-I 15 sols
• 1791-MA 15 sols
• 1791-W 15 sols
• 1791-A 30 sols
• 1791-I 30 sols
• 1791-W 30 sols
• 1791-A demi-écu au buste habillé
• 1791 écu, design competition
• 1791-A écu au buste habillé
• 1791-H écu au buste habillé
• 1791-I écu au buste habillé
• 1791-A double louis d'or à la tête nue
• France 1792 sol, pattern
• France 1792 2 sols, pattern
• 1792-A 2 sols
• 1792-AA 2 sols
• 1792-B 2 sols
• France (1793) 2 sols pattern
• 1793-B 2 sols au balance
• Coins and currency dated 1791
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)