France 1845-W 5 francs
This specimen was lot 2140 in Goldberg sale 81 (Los Angeles, September 2014), where it sold for $529. The catalog description[2] noted, "France. 5 Francs, 1845-W. Louis Philippe. Multi color tone. NGC graded MS-64." The silver five francs of Louis Philippe (1830-48) were issued in massive quantities from numerous mints. Le Franc[1] estimates a total of 335 million were made, counting all sub-types. This issue, from the Lille mint, is common. A complete set of this later sub-type (1844-48) comprises 19 date and mintmark combinations, some quite scarce. All silver five francs were officially recalled in 1928 but ceased to circulate after World War I. This coin was legal tender in the United States until 1857 at a value of 93 cents.
Recorded mintage: 11,128,840[1], a common date.
Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver, 37 mm diameter, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE. Designed by Joseph François Domard, 1792-1858.
Catalog reference: F.325/9, Dav-91; KM-749.13; Gad-678a.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
- [1]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
- George Sobin, Jr., The Silver Crowns of France, 1640-1973. Teaneck, NJ: Richard Margolis, 1974.
- [2]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, Aleeza Brown, Yifu Che, Jason Villareal and Stephen Harvey, Goldberg Sale 81: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2014.
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