France 1839-D 5 francs
This specimen was lot 1263 in Sincona sale 73 (Zurich, November 2021), where it sold for 410 CHF (about US$528 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE | Kingdom. Louis Philippe, 1830-1848. 5 Francs 1839 D, Lyon. Turm / tour. Sehr selten. Fast sehr schön. (kingdom of France, Louis Philippe, 1830-48, five francs of 1839, Lyon mint, tower privy mark. Very rare, About very fine.)"
The silver five francs of Louis Philippe (1830-48) were issued in massive quantities from numerous mints. Le Franc[2] estimates a total of 335 million were made, counting all sub-types. This issue, from the Lyon mint, is scarce, with the variety with the tower privy mark being rare. A complete set of this middle sub-type (1832-44) comprises 102 date and mintmark combinations, some quite scarce. All silver five francs were officially recalled in 1928 but ceased to circulate after World War I. This coin was legal tender in the United States until 1857 at a value of 93 cents.
Recorded mintage: 501,057 (ark privy mark) + 17,745 (tower privy mark)[2].
Specification: 37 mm diameter, 25 grams, 0.900 fine silver, lettered edge, this specimen 24.73 g.
Catalog reference: KM 749, F.324/80, Gadoury 678, Dav-91.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
- [2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Sincona sale 73: World Coins and Medals, Bullion Auction and World Banknotes, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2021.
- George Sobin, Jr., The Silver Crowns of France, 1640-1973. Teaneck, NJ: Richard Margolis, 1974.
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