France 1839-B 5 francs
The first specimen was lot 1431 in Sincona sale 11 (Zürich, May 2013), where it sold for 300 CHF (about US$371 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANKREICH Louis Philippe, 1830-1848. 5 Francs 1839, Rouen. Gutes vorzüglich. (France, Louis Philippe (1830-48), five francs of 1839, Rouen mint, good extremely 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 Rouen mint, is common. A complete set of this sub-type (1832-43) comprises 102 date and mintmark combinations, some very rare. 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: 3,465,886[2].
Specification: 37 mm diameter, 25 grams, 0.900 fine silver, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE. Designed by Nicolas-Pierre Tiolier, the first specimen 24.83 g.
Catalog reference: Dav-91; F.324/74, Gadoury 678, KM 749.2.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- [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.
- Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
- [1]Numismatic Coins, Medals & Banknotes, Auction 11, Zurich: Sincona AG, 2013.
- George Sobin, Jr., The Silver Crowns of France, 1640-1973. Teaneck, NJ: Richard Margolis, 1974.
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