France ANXI-A 5 francs

from the Mountain Groan Collection

from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale, lot 43331

from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale, lot 43337

from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale, lot 43339

Shown is a Napoleonic five francs struck at the Paris mint (mint mark "A") in 1802. It is a somewhat scarce type. The various designs of Napoleonic five francs form eight distinct types of which this is the first, struck 1802-04 (AN XI-AN 12) with a complete set of this type comprising 26 date and mintmark combinations, some very rare. This date is common for the type. The second specimen was lot 43331 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $4,320. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE. Consulate. Copper 5 Francs Essai (Pattern), Year XI-A (1802/3). Paris Mint. Napoléon as First Consul. PCGS Genuine--Spot Removed, Unc Details. Plain edge. By J.-P. Droz. Despite its noted spot removal, this enchanting pattern issue presents rich brown color and resounding brilliance in the fields. A wondrous example great flair and eye appeal. About this type, Margolis writes that "...although undoubtedly rare, copper examples of this Droz competition essay are occasionally available, in contrast to the total absence on the market of any of the official silver 5 francs competition essays (with the sole exception of an exceedingly rare plain edge silver 5 francs essay by Wielandy). This leads me to suggest that these plain edge copper essays were struck and sold by Droz on his own initiative." From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Münzen und Medaillen on 7 November 1961). Ex: Collection R.K. (Raoul Kraft) (Münzen und Medaillen - 11/1961) Lot # 198."

The third specimen was lot 43337 in the same sale, where it sold for $52,800. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"Stunning Wielandy Pattern 5 Francs that is Possibly the Finest Known, FRANCE. Consulate. Silver 5 Francs Essai (Pattern), Year XI (1802/3). Geneva Mint. Napoléon as First Consul. PCGS SPECIMEN-62. Plain edge. By C. Wielandy. Deeply toned an alluring and rather inviting gunmetal gray, this nearly-Choice crown design displays some olive and cobalt hues throughout, along with some hints of brilliance in the protected areas. For completeness, some scattered marks of friction are noted on the obverse, mostly occurring to the left of the portrait. Given the importance of the type, however, this aspect is easily overlooked. An EXTREMELY RARE Year XI competition design by the Geneva-based engraver, Charles Wielandy, this type was clearly not produced for the actual competition, as those examples bear the edge inscription "DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE" (Maz-549). It is more likely that those few known with a plain edge were prototypes made by Wielandy before the competition, with Margolis positing that this was likely done by Wielandy in Geneva before forwarding the dies to the Paris Mint. According to the authors of T&T (Théret & Thaillard), just two examples were cited--both quite inferior to the present specimen. The finer of those two--a PCGS SPECIMEN-55, and the only other representative of the type seen at either major service--realized a hammer of €16,000 in October 2022. 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 # 2177 (part of). Ex: Virgil M. Brand Collection (as "Ferrari-Brand," Schulman - ca. 1932) Lot # 3504. Ex: Baron Phillipe de Ferrari la Renotière Collection."

The fourth specimen was lot 43339 in the same sale, where it sold for $31,200. The catalog description^[1] noted,

" Exceptionally Rare Napoléon Portrait Pattern with Victory Reverse FRANCE. Consulate. Silver 5 Francs Essai (Pattern), Year XI (1802/3). Paris Mint. Napoléon as First Consul. PCGS SPECIMEN-62. Type with large Victory. Lettered edge. By H. Auguste. Charmingly toned on the obverse, with some deeper hues accentuating the refined portrait and legend, and with some intense iridescence populating the fields of the reverse. Despite being attributed to the Year XI competition for coinage designs, this type undoubtedly does not belong, as the archives are clear in that Auguste did not participate. Additionally, the use of a collar broken into three segments for the edge is not consistent with the competition of that year, and the authors of T&T (Théret & Thaillard) suggest that this type may, in fact, have been struck after 1830. In his notes, Margolis, does mention the collar being broken into three segments, though he does not date it to a later period, stating that "...this essay, although unquestionably original, is probably the result of private initiative on the part of Henry Auguste. However, as a prominent gold- and silversmith supplying objects to the government, he may have received special permission to create an essay bearing a denomination." Regardless, its GREAT RARITY cannot be overstated, and the extravagant, nearly-Choice state of preservation of the present specimen no doubt makes it one of the finest known. Indeed, just two have been graded finer at PCGS (both are SPECIMEN-63), along with just two finer at NGC (assessed as MS-63 and MS-64+, and attributed as Maz-531, despite their flan bruni status). 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 # 2177 (part of). Ex: Virgil M. Brand Collection (as "Ferrari-Brand," Schulman - ca. 1932) Lot # 3505. Ex: Baron Phillipe de Ferrari la Renotière Collection."

Recorded Mintage: 3,877,151.

Specification: 37 mm diameter, 25 grams, 0.900 fine silver, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE. Designed by Pierre Joseph Tiolier, 1763-1819. The second specimen is copper, 26.99 g. The third specimen is 22.09 g. The fourth specimen is 24.88 g.

Catalog reference: Dav-82, F.301/1, KM 650.1. The second specimen is Maz-536a var. (lettered edge); Gad-566.(b); T&T-1044.a.3. The third specimen is cf. Maz-549 var. (lettered edge); Gad-576.(b) (no value listed); T&T-1053.2. The fourth specimen is Maz-531a (R5); Gad-564.(a) (no value listed); T&T-1054.a.1.PF.

Source:

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.
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.
^[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.

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France ANXI-A 5 francs

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