France 1856-D franc
This issue, from the Lyon mint, is a better 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 France in 1869. A complete set of this type comprises 17 date and mintmark combinations. The entire production run, 1853-63, totaled about 25.9 million pieces. This date is not rare but is priced about double the commonest dates (1858-A and 1859-A). Proofs, of course, are rare. It is the only issue of this type from Lyon.
Recorded mintage: 1,226,901.
Specification: 23 mm diameter, 5 grams, 0.900 fine silver, reeded edge. Designed by Jean-Jacques Barre, 1793-1855.
Catalog reference: KM 779.3, F.214/8.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
Link to:
- 1855-A franc
- 1856-BB centime
- 1856-K centime
- 1856-W centime* 1856-B 2 centimes
- 1856-K 2 centimes
- 1856-BB 5 centimes
- 1856-D 50 centimes
- 1856-A franc
- 1856-A 2 francs
- 1856-D 2 francs
- 1856-A silver 5 francs
- 1856-A gold 5 francs
- 1856-D silver 5 francs
- 1856-A 10 francs
- 1856-A 20 francs
- 1856-BB 20 francs
- 1856-A 50 francs
- 1856-A 100 francs
- 1857-A franc
- Coins and currency dated 1856
- return to coins of France