France 1793 3 livres

from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale, lot 43191

Stack's Bowers September 2025 ANA sale, lot 43202

The first specimen was lot 43191 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $33,600. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"Exceptionally Toned & Exceedingly Rare Genius Pattern, FRANCE. National Convention. Silver 1/2 Écu of 3 Livres Module Essai (Pattern), Year II/1793. Paris Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-64. Plain edge. By A. Dupré. An EXCESSIVELY RARE and likely UNIQUE pattern issue for an unadopted denomination and design, this type lacks any reference to a denomination, but it has been traditionally described as that of 3 Livres. Mazard and Gadoury depict a type that differs in both the obverse and reverse dies, most noticeably with a period following 1793 and the lack of a cedille in "FRANCOISE." Hennin (a line drawing) and Guilloteau (image via a casting) however match the present specimen with respect to these die aspects, meaning that it may have served as the example thus cited. Very sharply struck and pleasingly toned, with a tremendous display of iridescence upon the obverse. A stunning and exceptionally important opportunity for a type that is virtually unobtainable. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Wade Hinderling on 22 May 2003, "who had very recently acquired it in Paris")."

The second specimen was lot 43202 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Oklahoma City, OK, August 2025), where it sold for $18,000. The catalog description^[2] noted, "Alluringly Rare Genius Minor. FRANCE. National Convention. Silver 1/2 Ecu Module Essai (Pattern), Year II/1793. Paris Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-62. Plain edge. By Augustin Dupré. Very sharply struck and incredibly attractive, this VERY RARE pattern issue, which lacks an evidence of a denomination, has been traditionally described as a 1/2 Écu or 3 Livres. Wondrous toning is evident across both sides, while tremendous lustrous brilliance accentuating the fields throughout. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from the Farouk Collection in March 1954). Ex: Palace Collections of Egypt [King Farouk] (Sotheby's - 3/1954) Lot # 2175 (part of)." Earlier constitutional half écus (KM 613.1) had the king's bust. This half écu was probably made after the trial and execution of the king when it was no longer desirable to have the king's bust on the portrait. The silver écu was converted to the piece of six livres (KM 624.1) but the half écu never got past the pattern stage. We are calling this example a three livres to distinguish it from the constitutional half écu (KM 613.1) but it has no denomination.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 14.74 g, 0.917 fine silver, 33 mm diameter, the first specimen 16.00 g; the second specimen 15.96 g.

Catalog reference: cf. Maz-342 (R3); cf. Gad-45.(a); Guilloteau-411; Hennin-612.

Source:

Ciani, Louis, Les Monnaies Royales Françaises de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI, avec indication de leur valuer actuelle, Paris, 1926 (reprinted in Barcelona, 1965).
Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
^[1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2024 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Emilio M. Ortiz Collection, The Richard Margolis Collection and The Rutherford Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
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.
^[2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2025 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Richard August Collection and the Richard Margolis Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.

Link to:

France 1793 3 livres

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