France 1812-W 40 francs

Jean Elsen sale 160, lot 1768

This specimen was lot 1768 in Jean Elsen sale 160 (Brussels, November 2024), where it sold for €1,000 (about US$1,266 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Napoléon Ier (1804-1814), AV 40 francs, 1812 W, Lille. Nettoyé. Très Beau. (empire of France, Napoleon I, 1804-14, gold forty frances of 1812, Lille mint. Cleaned, very fine.)"

The French empire produced large quantities of gold coins, made from metal looted from countries Napoleon conquered. However, gold coins of the French branch mints are very scarce as a class and have long been underpriced, mostly because the few survivors are in poor condition. This is the final forty francs for Napoleon, struck 1809-14 with a laureate head and "EMPIRE FRANCAIS" on the reverse. It is the most plentiful type and this issue is scarce.

Recorded mintage: 14,399^[2].

Specification: 12.90 g, 0.900 fine gold, 26 mm diameter, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE, designed by Pierre-Joseph Tiolier and Jean-Pierre Droz.

Catalog reference: F.541/10, KM 696.6, Gad-1084; Fr-506.

Source:

Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
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]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 160, Collection de deniers liegeois et Collection de monnaies d'or francaises, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2024.
^[2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies. Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.

Link to:

France 1812-W 40 francs

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