France AN12-D 1/2 franc KM-648.3

Jean Elsen sale 122, lot 904

This specimen was lot 904 in Jean Elsen sale 122 (Brussels, September 2014), where it sold for €550 (about US$842 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Consulat (1799-1804), AR demi-franc, an 12 D, Lyon. Rare. Fines griffes au droit. Belle patine. Superbe à Fleur de Coin. (France, Consulate (1799-1804), silver half franc of the year 12, Lyon mint. Rare, fine scratches on the obverse, nice toning, extremely fine to uncirculated.)"

This dime-sized coin was struck at Lyon under the régime of Napoleon as Premier Consul, before he made himself emperor. The type was struck AN11-12 only and is rather scarce. It was demonetized in 1869. The catalog^[2] notes 14 dates for the type, some very rare. This date is scarce. Year 12 (1803-04) represents the first year all the silver and gold denominations appeared. Silver five francs and gold twenty and forty francs had appeared in France previously but year 12 saw the introduction of the silver ¼, ½, one and two francs.

Recorded mintage: 13,716.

Specification: 2.5 g, 0.900 fine silver, 18 mm diameter, decorated edge. Designed by Pierre Joseph Tiolier, 1763-1819.

Catalog reference: KM 648.3; F.173/4, Gad-394.

Source:

• ^[2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
• 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]Philippe Elsen et al., Vente Publique 122: Collection de monnaies chinoises, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S. A., 2014.

Links to:

• AN 11-A 5 francs
• AN XI 5 francs, visit of Napoleon to the mint
• AN XI-A 5 francs
• AN 12-A ¼ franc, Premier Consul
• AN12-H ¼ franc, Empereur
• An 12-I ¼ franc, Empereur
• An 12-T ¼ franc, Premier Consul
• AN 12-A ½ franc, Premier Consul
• AN 12-G ½ franc, Premier Consul
• AN 12-H ½ franc, Premier Consul
• AN 12-A ½ franc, Empereur
• AN 12-BB ½ franc, Empereur
• AN 12-A franc, Premier Consul
• AN 12-A franc, Empereur
• An 12-B franc, Empereur
• AN 12-BB franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-H franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-K franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-K franc, Empereur
• An 12-L franc, Premier Consul
• An 12-MA franc, Premier Consul
• AN 12-A 2 francs, Premier Consul
• AN 12-A 2 francs, Empereur
• An 12-BB 2 francs, Empereur
• An 12-K 2 francs, Empereur
• AN 12-M 2 francs, Empereur
• An 12-T 2 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-T 2 francs, Empereur
• AN 12-A 5 francs, Premier Consul
• AN 12-A 5 francs, Empereur
• AN 12-B 5 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-B 5 francs, Empereur
• AN 12-BB 5 francs, Premier Consul
• AN 12-D 5 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-I 5 francs, Premier Consul
• AN 12-I 5 francs, Empereur
• AN 12-K 5 francs, Premier Consul
• An 12-L 5 francs, Premier Consul
• AN 12-M 5 francs, Premier Consul
• AN 12-M 5 francs, Empereur
• AN 12-MA 5 francs, Premier Consul
• AN 12-Q 5 francs, Premier Consul
• AN 12-Q 5 francs, Empereur
• AN 12-T 5 francs, Premier Consul
• AN 12-U 5 francs, Premier Consul
• AN 12-W 5 francs, Premier Consul
• AN 12-A 20 francs d'or, Premier Consul
• AN 12-A 20 francs d'or, Empereur
• AN 12-A 40 francs d'or
• AN 13-A 5 francs
• AN 13-G 5 francs
• Coins and currency dated 1803
• return to coins of France