France AN12-A 40 francs

Eliasberg lot 141

from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale, lot 43343

The first specimen was lot 141 in the Eliasberg sale, where it sold for $414. The catalog description^[1] noted, "1803 (A) (L'an 12) 40 francs. Paris mint. EF-45 (NGC). Bust of Napoleon to left, legends around/denomination in wreath, legends and date around. Deep yellow gold with darker toning at the rims. Even in appearance. Purchased from John Zug, January, 1947." This type was struck only in Paris, France, during the years AN XI and AN 12. Common in circulated condition, it is difficult to find nice. The second specimen was lot 43343 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $10,200. The catalog description^[2] noted,

"Stunningly Rare 40 Francs Pattern in Silver, FRANCE. Consulate. Silver 40 Francs Essai (Pattern), Year XII (1803/4). Paris Mint. Napoléon as First Consul. PCGS SPECIMEN-61. Plain edge. By H. Auguste. Mentioned by Margolis as '...an original striking, and extremely rare as such,' this silver specimen featuring Auguste's familiar concept for the competition is undoubtedly a great RARITY. While Mazard and Gadoury list the type with a plain edge, as is the case here, T&T (Théret & Taillard) mentions only a reeded edge for the type, indicating that, at least in silver, two different edge versions exist. Some scattered hairlines are noted here, though the intensely RARE nature and enchanting overall appearance make such aspects rather easy to overlook. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Weil on 5 June 1989). Ex: Alain Weil (6/1989) Lot # 104."

Recorded mintage: 253,406.

Specification: 12.90 g, 0.900 fine gold, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE; the first specimen: 12.88 grams, 26.00 mm diameter. The second specimen is silver, 7.46 g.

Catalog reference: KM 652, F.536/2, Fr-479, Gadoury-1080. The second specimen Maz-521a (R3); Gad-1070.(b); T&T-1503.a.2 var. (reeded edge).

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.
• ^[1]Kraljevich, John, John Pack, Elizabeth O. Piper and Frank Van Valen, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr., Collection of World Gold Coins and Medals, Wolfboro, NH: American Numismatic Rarities, 2005.
• 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.
• ^[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:

• An XI-A 40 francs
• An 12-A ¼ franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-BB ¼ franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-I ¼ franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-MA ¼ franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-T ¼ franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-H ¼ franc, Empereur
• An 12-I ¼ franc, Empereur
• An 12-K ¼ franc, Empereur
• An 12-M ¼ franc, Empereur
• An 12-T ¼ franc, Empereur
• An 12-A ½ franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-BB ½ franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-D ½ franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-G ½ franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-H ½ franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-I ½ franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-K ½ franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-L ½ franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-MA ½ franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-T ½ franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-U ½ franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-A ½ franc, Empereur
• An 12-BB ½ franc, Empereur
• An 12-H ½ franc, Empereur
• An 12-I ½ franc, Empereur
• An 12-K ½ franc, Empereur
• An 12-T ½ franc, Empereur
• An 12-A franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-BB franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-H franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-I franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-K franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-L franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-MA franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-T franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-U franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-W franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-A franc, Empereur
• An 12-B franc, Empereur
• An 12-H franc, Empereur
• An 12-I franc, Empereur
• An 12-K franc, Empereur
• An 12-M franc, Empereur
• An 12-Q franc, Empereur
• An 12-T franc, Empereur
• An 12-A 2 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-BB 2 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-H 2 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-I 2 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-K 2 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-L 2 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-M 2 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-MA 2 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-Q 2 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-T 2 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-W 2 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-A 2 francs, Empereur
• An 12-B 2 francs, Empereur
• An 12-BB 2 francs, Empereur
• An 12-K 2 francs, Empereur
• An 12-L 2 francs, Empereur
• An 12-M 2 francs, Empereur
• An 12-T 2 francs, Empereur
• An 12-A 5 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-B 5 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-BB 5 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-D 5 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-G 5 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-H 5 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-I 5 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-K 5 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-L 5 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-M 5 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-MA 5 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-Q 5 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-T 5 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-U 5 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-W 5 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-A 5 francs, Empereur
• An 12-B 5 francs, Empereur
• An 12-D 5 francs, Empereur
• An 12-H 5 francs, Empereur
• An 12-I 5 francs, Empereur
• An 12-L 5 francs, Empereur
• An 12-M 5 francs, Empereur
• An 12-Q 5 francs, Empereur
• An 12-T 5 francs, Empereur
• An 12-A 20 francs d'or, Premier Consul
• An 12-A 20 francs d'or, Empereur
• An 13-A 40 francs d'or
• Coins and currency dated 1803
• other specimens in The Eliasberg Collection