France L'AN 2-A 5 decimes

from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale, lot 43248

from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale, lot 43249

from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale, lot 43250

Steve Album sale 51, lot 2869

The first specimen was lot 43248 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $15,600. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"Dupré's Silver Pattern for the "French Regeneration", FRANCE. National Convention. Reign of Terror. Silver 5 Décimes Essai (Pattern), Year 2-A (1794). Paris Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-61. Plain edge. By A. Dupré. Conceived of and issued during a particularly brutal period in French history known as the Reign of Terror, this classically-inspired design by Dupré features a statue of Isis nourishing France's regeneration through fountains that emerge from her breasts. Already a difficult coin in the intended bronze composition, this stunning example--the crown-sized denomination in the newly-created decimal system--is EXCESSIVELY RARE in silver. Its gunmetal gray nature yields to enchanting hues of cobalt and burgundy, with some additional notes of goldenrod spread about the reverse. Very sharply struck and undoubtedly offering exceptional eye appeal. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from the Farouk Collection in March 1954). Ex: Palace Collections of Egypt [King Farouk] (Sotheby's - 3/1954) Lot # 2175 (part of)."

The second specimen was lot 43249 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $1,560. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE. National Convention. Reign of Terror. Lead 5 Décimes Essai (Pattern) Piefort, "Year 2-A (1794)" (ca. 19th Century). Paris Mint. PCGS Genuine--Tooled, AU Details. Plain edge. By A. Dupré. EXTREMELY RARE and unusual, this "Robespierre" Isis type features a rather thick planchet that has not been seen. An exceptionally interesting representative from the trials of this fascinating series. Quite possibly issued from Dupré's atelier, or with his officials dies, in the 19th century. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from the Farouk Collection in March 1954). Ex: Palace Collections of Egypt [King Farouk] (Sotheby's - 3/1954) Lot # 2175 (part of)."

The third specimen was lot 43250 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $2,880. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE. National Convention. Reign of Terror. Copper 5 Décimes Essai (Pattern), Year 2-A (1794). Paris Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-64 Brown. Plain edge. By A. Dupré. Sharply struck and extremely alluring, this chocolate brown specimen presents an enticing near-Gem appearance with resounding brilliance radiating from the surfaces. A VERY RARE example with a plain (rather than lettered) edge. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Florange on 5 October 1954). Ex: Marcel Baille Collection (Jules Florange & Cie FPL 5 - 9/1954) Lot # 365."

The fourth specimen was lot 2869 in Steve Album Auction 51 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2025), where it sold for $720. The catalog description^[3] noted, "FRANCE: First Republic, AE 5 decimes, 1793/L'AN 2, the fountain of the Egyptian Goddess Isis, making spring water for the Regeneration of France from her bosom, a lovely example, PCGS graded MS63 BN, ex Charles W. Lueders III Collection." This is from a series of patterns made as the republican regime wrangled over what the new decimal coinage should look like. The statue of Isis shown here was inspired by Robespierre's "cult of Reason". Eventually, in 1795, the Directory issued one and five centimes and one decime in copper but never adopted a five decimes.

Recorded mintage: 154,278^[2].

Specification: 25 g, bronze, 36 mm diameter, the first specimen silver, 30.05 g, the second specimen lead, 44.74 g, the third specimen bronze, 25.10 g.

Catalog reference: Maz-297 (R4); cf. Gad-390 (for regular issue in bronze); cf. F.172A/1 (same), VG-419 (bronze, "DUPRE" on pedestal), VG-421 (tin, "CE SONT TOUS MES ENFA" on pedestal). The second specimen is Maz-298 var, the third specimen is Maz-299 (R3).

Source:

• ^[1]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.
• Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
• Guilloteau, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, Colonies 1670-1942 et Metropole 1774-1942, Versailles, 1942.
• ^[2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
• ^[3]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 51, featuring the Howard Daniel III Collection of Asian Coins, the Almer H. Orr III Collection of World Coins and the Joe Sedillot Collection of German Coins, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2024.

Link to:

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