France 1807-A 1/2 franc

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Jean Elsen sale 117, lot 1814
France 1807A demi franc rev JElsen 117-1814.jpg
Stack's Bowers 2021 NYINC sale, lot 20135
SB121-20135r.jpg

The first specimen was lot 1814 in Jean Elsen sale 117 (Brussels, June 2013), where it sold for €1,300 (about US$2,050 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Napoléon Ier (1804-1814), AR demi-franc, 1807 A, Paris. Tête de nègre. Rare. Belle patine colorée. Superbe. (France, Napoleon I (1804-14), silver half franc of 1807, Paris mint, "Negro head". Rare, nice toning, extremely fine.)"

The second specimen was lot 20135 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (Newport Beach, CA, January 2021), where it sold for $3,000. The catalog description[2] noted, "FRANCE. 1/2 Franc, 1807-A. Paris Mint. Napoleon as Emperor. PCGS MS-64 Gold Shield. African head type. Tied for second finest certified of the type with one other example on the PCGS population report, only one finer (MS 65). A highly attractive representative of this heavily sought after one-year type exhibiting bold clearly defined design elements with slightly subdued smooth lustrous surfaces displaying delicate mottled patina. This popular issue seldom appears on the market in the near-Gem state of preservation and as such should be considered RARE and a real treat for the academic of the Napoleonic era." This type was struck 1807 only at Paris. The design of the bust was swiftly rejected by the Emperor on his return from campaign and changed to the laureate head (F.177) used 1807-1808. All the silver minors (quarter (F.160), half (shown here), one (F.203) and two francs (F.253)) were affected.

Recorded mintage: 58,458 plus 46,006 laureate head.

Specification: 2.5 g, 0.900 fine silver, 18 mm diameter, decorated edge, designed by Pierre Joseph Tiolier.

Catalog reference: F.176/1, KM-679; Gad-397.

Source:

  • Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
  • [1]Elsen, Philippe, Vente Publique 117: Collection Jean-Jacques Symoens, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses fils, S.A., 2013.
  • Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
  • Guilloteau, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, Colonies 1670-1942 et Metropole 1774-1942, Versailles, 1942.
  • Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
  • [2]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The January 2021 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Oro del Nuevo Mundo and Matt Orsini Collections, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.

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