France 1860-A franc
The first specimen was lot 1455 in Jean Elsen sale 112 (Brussels, March 2012) where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Napoléon III (1852-1870), AR 1 franc, 1860 A, Paris. Différent: main. Superbe. (France, Napoleon III, 1852-70, silver one franc, 1860-A, Paris mint, hand privy mark. Extremely fine.)"
This issue, from the Paris mint, is a common date of a type struck 1853-63 during the régime of Napoleon III. This "tête nue" design, by J. J. Barre, was replaced in 1864 by the "tête laurée" type, which was of lower fineness. It was demonetized in 1869.
Recorded mintage: 2,728,335 (hand privy mark) plus 2,016,484 (bee privy mark).
Specification: 5 g, 0.835 fine silver, .144 troy oz AGW, 23 mm diameter, reeded edge, designed by Albert Désiré Barré (1818-1878).
Catalog reference: KM 779.1, Gad-460, F.214/14.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 112, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2012.
- Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
- Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
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