France 1929 100 francs
This specimen was lot 1476 in Sincona sale 11 (Zurich, May 2013), where it sold for 10,000 CHF (about US$12,380 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANKREICH 3. Republik, 1871-1945. 100 Francs 1929. Typ Bazor. Sehr selten. nur 15 Exemplare geprägt. Gutes vorzüglich. (France, third republic (1871-1945), one hundred francs of 1929, Bazor type, very rare, good extremely fine.)"
This coin is a prototype for a projected reintroduction of gold coinage after the devaluation of the franc by Poincaré in the late twenties. In 1935-36 thirteen million were minted but a further drop in the value of the franc prevented their general release and the type is scarce today.
Recorded mintage: 15[2].
Specification: 6.55 g, 0.900 fine gold, 21 mm diameter, reeded edge. It was designed by Lucien Bazor, this specimen 6.51 g.
Catalog reference: F.554/2, KM 880, Gadoury 1148, Fr-598.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- 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.
- [2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2013.
- [1]Numismatic Coins, Medals & Banknotes, Auction 11, Zurich: Sincona AG, 2013.
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