France 1817-W 1/2 franc

Sincona sale 20, lot 2818

This specimen was lot 2818 in Sincona sale 20 (Zürich, October 2014), where it sold for CHF 225 (about US$282 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted, "1/2 Franc 1817. Lille. Sehr schön-vorzüglich (very fine to extremely fine)." This dime-sized coin was struck at Paris under the régime of king Louis XVIII (1814-24) of France. It is an early date of a type struck 1816-24. All half francs of this reign are of this type, which is fairly common. It was demonetized in 1869. The catalog^[2] notes 52 dates for the type, some very rare. This date is fairly scarce, being priced about four times the commonest date (1822A).

Recorded mintage: 25,481.

Specification: 2.5 g, 0.900 fine silver, 18 mm diameter, plain edge. Designed by Auguste-François Michaut, 1786-1879, this specimen 2.45 g.

Catalog reference: Gadoury 401, F.179/14, KM 708.6.

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.
• ^[1]Richter, Jürg, Numismatic Coins & Medals: Auction 20, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2014.

Link to:

• 1817-A ¼ franc
• 1817-B ¼ franc
• 1817-Q ¼ franc
• 1817-T ¼ franc
• 1817-W ¼ franc
• 1817-A ½ franc
• 1817-A 2 francs
• 1817-K 2 francs
• 1817-A 5 francs
• 1817-L 5 francs
• 1817 5 francs, visit of the duchess of Angoulême to the Paris mint
• 1817 5 francs, visit of the Duke and Duchess of Berry to the Paris Mint
• 1817-A 20 francs
• 1817-K 20 francs
• 1817-L 20 francs
• 1817-W 20 francs
• 1817-A 40 francs
• Coins and currency dated 1817