France 1806-L 2 francs
This specimen was lot 1731 in Jean Elsen sale 155 (Brussels, June 2023), where it sold for €300 (about US$393 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Napoléon Ier (1804-1814), AR 2 francs, 1806 L, Bayonne. Très Beau. (empire of France, Napoleon I, 1804-14, silver two francs of 1806, Bayonne mint. Very Fine.)"
This type was struck 1806-07 with seventeen different date-mintmark combinations, of which the 1806-A is the only one at all common. The specimen shown is from Bayonne and is scarce. Many issues of this type are known from a handful (<10) of examples. All two francs issued prior to 1859, including this one, were demonetized in 1869 to make way for the succeeding issue which was only 0.835 fine.
Recorded mintage: 71,796.
Specification: 27 mm diameter, 10 grams, 0.900 fine silver, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE. Designed by Pierre Joseph Tiolier, 1763-1819.
Catalog reference: F.252/6, Gad-496, KM 658.9.
- 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.
- Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 155, Collection Marc Bar et Distinctions de Jean-Baptiste Nothomb, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2023.
Link to:
- 1806-A ¼ franc
- 1806-K ¼ franc
- 1806-A ½ franc
- 1806-L ½ franc
- 1806-Q ½ franc
- 1806-A franc
- 1806-L franc
- 1806-A 2 francs
- 1806-BB 2 francs
- 1806-I 2 francs
- 1806-A 5 francs
- 1806-B 5 francs
- 1806-BB 5 francs
- 1806-I 5 francs
- 1806-L 5 francs
- 1806-M 5 francs
- 1806-Q 5 francs
- 1806-W 5 francs
- 1806-A 20 francs
- 1806-I 20 francs
- 1806-Q 20 francs
- 1806-U 20 francs
- 1806-W 20 francs
- 1806-A 40 francs
- 1806-I 40 francs
- 1806-M 40 francs
- 1806-U 40 francs
- 1806-W 40 francs
- 1807-A 2 francs, bare head
- 1807-A 2 francs, laureate head
- 1807-I 2 francs
- 1807-W 2 francs
- Coins and currency dated 1806
- return to French two francs coins, AN12-2001