France 1866-A 50 centimes

Goldberg sale 78, lot 3013

This specimen was lot 3013 in Goldberg sale 78 (Los Angeles, January 2014), where it sold for $141. The catalog description^[1] noted, "France. 50 Centimes, 1866-A. Napoleon III. Laureate head. Toned. NGC graded MS-65." This dime-sized coin was struck at Paris under the régime of Napoleon III, emperor of France (1852-70). It is a common date of a type struck 1864-69. This type is distinguished from the earlier type (F.187) of 1853-63 by the presence of a laurel wreath on the emperor's head. Unlike previous types, the fineness was only .835. It was demonetized in 1918. The catalog^[2] notes 17 dates for the type, none rare.

Recorded mintage: 5,921,157^[2].

Specification: 2.5 g, .835 fine silver, 18 mm diameter, reeded edge. It was designed by Albert-Desiré Barre, 1818-1879.

Catalog reference: F.188/8, KM-814.1; Gad-417.

Source:

• 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, 2013.
• ^[1]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, Yifu Che and Stephen Harvey, Goldberg sale 78: the pre-Long Beach Auction, Ancient and World Coins, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, 2014.

Link to:

• 1865-A 50 centimes
• 1866-A 20 centimes
• 1866-BB 50 centimes
• 1866-A franc
• 1866-A 2 francs
• 1866-K 2 francs
• 1866-A gold 5 francs
• 1866-BB 5 francs d'or
• 1866-A 50 francs
• 1866-A 100 francs
• 1866-BB 100 francs
• 1868-BB 50 centimes "laureate head"
• 1871-A 50 centimes "Cérès head"
• Coins and currency dated 1866