France 1822-A franc

Sincona sale 63, lot 921

from the Mountain Groan Collection

The first specimen was lot 921 in Sincona sale 63 (Zurich, June 2020), where it sold for 180 CHF (about US$226 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"Frankreich, konigreich, Louis XVIII. 1814-1824. 1 Franc 1822 A, Paris. Vorzüglich-FDC. Herrliche Patina. Leicht berieben. (kingdom of France, Louis XVIII, 1814-24, one franc of 1822, Paris mint. Extremely fine-uncirculated, Most attractively toned, Slightly polished.)"

This issue, from the Paris mint, is a later date of a type struck 1816-24. All francs of Louis XVIII are of this type which, despite nine years of production from nine mints, is not common. It was demonetized in 1869. A complete set of this type comprises 66 date and mintmark combinations, many very rare. The entire production run, 1816-24, totaled about 4.3 million pieces. The production of five franc pieces in the same period was 104 million. This is the highest mintage date.

Recorded mintage: 628,168.

Specification: 23 mm diameter, 5 grams, 0.900 fine silver, reeded edge. Designed by Auguste François Michaut, 1786-1879, the first specimen 4.98 g.

Catalog reference: F.206/40, Gadoury 449.

Source:

• ^[1]Richter, Jürg, Sincona sale 63: Gold and Silver Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2020.
• 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.
• Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2013.

Link to:

• 1821-W franc
• 1822-A ¼ franc
• 1822-B ¼ franc
• 1822-A ½ franc
• 1822-A 2 francs
• 1822-A 5 francs
• 1822-B 5 francs
• 1822-W 5 francs
• 1822-A 20 francs d'or
• 1822-W 20 francs d'or
• 1822-A 40 francs
• 1822-H 40 francs
• 1823-A franc
• Coins and currency dated 1822