France 1807-A 1/4 franc

Jean Elsen sale 83, lot 2145

Heritage sale 3010, lot 20891

photo courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries

Jean Elsen sale 110, lot 1230

Jean Elsen sale 110, lot 1231; note the addition of the laurel wreath

This tiny coin, struck at Paris under the régime of the emperor Napoleon, was lot 2145 in Jean Elsen sale 83. It is the only date of a type that remains very scarce today. Mint officials attempted to please the emperor while he was away on campaign by presenting him with a new bust on the coins. Napoleon rejected their design, saying that the hairstyle made him look like a Negro. The quarter franc and its cousins, the half franc (F.176), one franc (F.203) and two francs (F.253), were hurriedly redesigned and reissued as the "laureate head" style.

The first specimen was lot 2145 in Jean Elsen sale 83 (Brussels, March 2005), where it sold for € 205. The second specimen was lot 20891 in Heritage sale 3010 (Boston, August 2010), where it sold for $1,006.25. The catalog description^[3] noted, "Napoleon Empereur 1/4 Franc (Quart) 1807A, MS64 NGC, plain bust, superb old-time toning with excellent design details, a charming little coin and rare in this designation. (The NGC holder incorrectly describes this coin as Laureate Head.)"

The third specimen was lot 1230 in Jean Elsen sale 110 (Brussels, September 2011) where it sold for € 220 (about US$355 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[4] noted,

"FRANCE, Napoléon Ier (1804-1814), AR quart de franc, 1807 A, Paris. Tête de nègre. Ref.: Belle patine. Très Beau. (France, Empire of Napoleon (1804-14), quarter france of 1807, Paris mint. 'Negro Head.' nice patina, Very Fine.)"

The quarter-francs of Napoleon ran thru a number of types, none of which are common (catalog numbers taken from Le Franc VIII):

• F.157: Bonaparte Premier Consul (AN 12 only, 323,000 struck for the type)
• F.158: Napoleon Emperor, revolutionary calendar (AN 12-14, 519,000 struck for the type)
• F.159: Napoleon Emperor, Gregorian calendar (1806-07, 112,000 struck for the type)
• F.160: Napoleon Emperor, "Negro head" (1807A only, this type, 41,000 struck)
• F.161: Napoleon Emperor, laureate head, "République Française" on reverse (1807-08, 23,000 struck for the type)
• F.162: Napoleon Emperor, laureate head, "Empire Français" on reverse (1809A only, 34,000 struck for the type)

Recorded mintage: 41,124^[1], 41,000^[2].

Specification: 1.25 g, 0.900 fine silver, 15 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: F.160/1, KM 677, Gad-348.

Source:

• ^[2]Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• ^[1]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
• ^[3]Tucker, Warren, Scott Cordry and John Kraljevich, Heritage Sale 3010: World Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2010.
• ^[4]Elsen, Philippe, Vente Publique 110, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses fils, S.A., 2011.

Link to:

• 1806-A ¼ franc
• 1807/6-K ¼ franc
• 1807-A ½ franc
• 1807-Q ½ franc
• 1807-A franc
• 1807-W franc
• 1807-A 2 francs, bare head
• 1807-A 2 francs, laureate head
• 1807-I 2 francs
• 1807-W 2 francs
• 1807-B 5 francs
• 1807-L 5 francs
• 1807-U 5 francs
• 1807-M 20 francs
• 1807-U 20 francs
• 1807-W 20 francs
• 1807-U 40 francs
• 1809-A ¼ franc
• Coins and currency dated 1807