France L'AN 3 10 centimes
The first specimen was lot 43215 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $1,080. The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE. National Convention. Bronze 10 Centimes Essai (Pattern), Year 3 (1794/5). Paris Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-63 Red Brown. Plain edge. By A. Dupré. A RARE and enchanting offering, this Choice specimen stands as the finer of just two observed in the PCGS census. Quite alluring, with a good deal of pale red hues present. From the Richard Margolis Collection."
The second specimen was lot 43217 in the same sale, where it sold for $660. The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE. National Convention. Tin 10 Centimes Essai (Pattern), Year 3 (1794/5). Paris Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-62. Plain edge. By A. Dupré. An unpublished type in tin or white metal, this EXTREMELY RARE specimen features pewtery gray color that lightens around the legends. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Hans Sc[h]ulman on 24 October 1952). Ex: Howard D. Gibbs Collection."
This is from a series of patterns made as the republican regime wrangled over what the new decimal coinage should look like. Eventually, in 1795, the Directory issued one and five centimes and one decime in copper, never a 10 centimes.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: copper, 21 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM PnA20, Maz-357 (R3), VG-442.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2024 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Emilio M. Ortiz Collection, The Richard Margolis Collection and The Rutherford Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
- Guilloteau, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, Colonies 1670-1942 et Metropole 1774-1942, Versailles, 1942.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
Link to:
- France L'AN 2-A centime pattern
- 1793/L'AN 2-A 5 décimes, statue of Isis
- (1794)-I sol à la balance
- (1794)-MA sol aux balances
- (1794)-R deux sols aux balance
- (1794)-Pau deux sols aux balance
- France L'AN 3 5 centimes, pattern
- France L'AN 3 25 centimes, pattern
- France (1794)-B 6 livres
- L'AN 4-A 5 centimes
- L'AN 4-A decime
- Coins and currency dated 1794