France 1887-A 2 francs

Jean Elsen sale 117, lot 1842

from the Mountain Groan Collection

The first specimen was lot 1842 in Jean Elsen sale 117 (Brussels, June 2013), where it did not sell. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Troisième République (1871-1940), AR 2 francs, 1887 A, Paris. Superbe. (Third republic of France (1871-1940), silver two francs of 1887, Paris mint, extremely fine.)"

This specimen is a common date of a series struck 1870-95 during the Third Republic of France. This "Cérès head" design is a revival of a type struck 1849-51 during the Second Republic. It was superseded by the "Semeuse" type of 1898-1920. It was officially withdrawn from circulation in 1928 and demonetized in 2005 but ceased to circulate after World War One.

Recorded mintage: 2,342,903.

Specification: 10 g, 0.835 fine silver, 27 mm diameter, reeded edge, revival of a design by Eugéne André Oudiné (1810-87).

Catalog reference: F.265/13, Gad-530a, KM 817.1.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• ^[1]Elsen, Philippe, Vente Publique 117: Collection Jean-Jacques Symoens, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses fils, S.A., 2013.
• Guilloteau, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, Colonies 1670-1942 et Metropole 1774-1942, Versailles, 1942.
• 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.

Link to:

• 1881-A 2 francs
• 1887-A centime
• France 1887-A 2 centimes
• 1887-A 5 centimes
• France 1887-A 50 centimes
• France 1887-A franc
• 1887A 20 francs d'or
• 1887-A 50 francs
• France 1887-A 100 francs d'or
• 1895-A 2 francs
• Coins and currency dated 1887
• return to Decimal coinage of France (1795-2001)