France 1859-BB 100 francs

Heritage sale 3094, lot 34619

This specimen was lot 34619 in Heritage sale 3094 (Chicago, August 2021), where it sold for $1,800. The catalog description^[1] noted, "France: Napoleon III gold 100 Francs 1859-BB AU55 PCGS, Strasbourg mint. Lightly circulated and retaining the majority of its original strike detail, framed in golden brilliance that careens across the legends upon rotation in hand. Strong residual luster in the fields is noted throughout." This type was struck 1855-59 at Paris and Strasbourg, superseding the forty francs of Louis Philippe. It is not rare and most specimens trade for their bullion value. This is a slightly scarce date.

Recorded mintage: 9,305.

Specification: 32.26 g, 0.900 fine gold, 35 mm diameter, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE, designed by Jean-Jacques Barré (1793-1855).

Catalog reference: Fr-569, KM 786.2, Gad-1135, F.550/8.

Source:

• Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
• 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.
• ^[1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3096, featuring the Paramount Collection of World & Ancient Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
• Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.

Link to:

• 1858-A 100 francs d'or
• 1859-A 20 centimes
• 1859-A 50 centimes
• 1859-A franc
• 1859-BB franc
• 1859-A 2 francs
• 1859-A silver 5 francs
• 1859-A gold 5 francs
• 1859-BB gold 5 francs
• 1859-A 10 francs d'or
• 1859-BB 20 francs
• 1859-A 50 francs d'or
• 1859-BB 50 francs d'or
• 1859-A 100 francs d'or
• 1862-BB 100 francs d'or
• Coins and currency dated 1859