France 1871-A franc

CNG Lissner collection, lot 436

from Stack's Bowers 2026 NYINC sale, lot 47041

small mintmark

This specimen was lot 436 in Classical Numismatic Group's sale of the Lissner Collection (Chicago, August 2014), where it sold for $665.50. The catalog description^[1] noted, "FRANCE, Le Gouvernement de la Défense Nationale. 1870-1871. AR Franc. Paris mint; différents: bee and anchor. Désiré-Albert Barre, engraver general. Renouard de Bussière, director. Dated 1871 A. Large A variety. In NGC encapsulation graded MS 66. Gem violet gray patina overall. Highest ever graded for the date and variety." This issue, from the Paris mint, is from a type struck 1871-95 during the Third Republic of France. This date is common in circulated condition. The large "A" variety shown in the first specimen is given a slight premium over the small "A" mintmark. The second specimen was lot 47041 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2026), where it sold for $192. The catalog description^[3] noted, "FRANCE. Franc, 1871-A. Paris Mint. PCGS MS-65. Variety with small "A" mint mark."

Recorded mintage: 3,305,969^[2].

Specification: 5 g, 0.900 fine silver, 23 mm diameter, reeded edge, the first specimen Ø22 mm, 5.02 g, 6h axis.

Catalog reference: Gad-465; KM 822.1, F.216/1.

Source:

Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
^[1]Teller, M. Louis, and Victor England, Jr., The Richard Lissner Collection, Lancaster, PA: Classical Numismatic Group, 2014.
^[2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies. Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
^[3]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, January 2026 NYINC Showcase Auction, Ancient and World Coins, featuring the Kazmier Wysocki Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.

Link to:

France 1871-A franc

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