France 1809-H 5 francs

Sincona sale 57, lot 2930

This specimen was lot 2930 in Sincona sale 57 (Zurich, May 2019), where it sold for 800 CHF (about US$952 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"I. Kaiserreich. Napoleon I. 1804-1815. 5 Francs 1809 H, La Rochelle. Selten. Nur 9006 Exemplare geprägt. Schön-sehr schön. (France, first empire, Napoleon I, 1804-15, five francs of 1809, La Rochelle mint. Rare. Only 9006 pieces struck, Fine-very fine.)"

This issue, from the La Rochelle mint, is a scarce date of a type struck 1809-15. This type succeeded the "REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE" reverse struck 1807-08. A complete set of this type comprises 95 date and mintmark combinations, some very rare. The entire production run totaled about 127 million pieces. 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: 8,976, with three known to exist^[2].

Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver, 37 mm diameter, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE, designed by Pierre Joseph Tiolier. This specimen is 24.32 g.

Catalog reference: F.307/5, KM 694.5, Gadoury 584, Dav-85.

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.
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.
^[1]Richter, Jürg, Sincona Auction 57: World Coins and Medals, Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2019.

Link to:

France 1809-H 5 francs

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