France 1791-BB 2 sols

Stack's Bowers 2025 ANA sale, lot 43126

This specimen was lot 43126 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Oklahoma City, OK, August 2025), where it sold for $1,140. The catalog description^[1] noted, "FRANCE. Constitution. Bell Metal 2 Sols, Year 3/1791-BB. Strasbourg Mint. Louis XVI. PCGS MS-63. Displaying pale olive-yellow hues and a somewhat darker speckled nature, this Choice specimen struck in bell metal also retains solid brilliance among the fields. Margolis notes that "...this is the finest example of the 1791 Strasbourg 2 Sols that I have seen." From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Elmen in 1996 for $500). Ex: World-Wide Coins of California [James Elmen] XXI (5/1996) Lot # 43." This coin was minted at Strasbourg during the throes of the Revolution. 1793 was the year the king was tried and executed. Amid the chaos, large quantities of these copper two sols were issued, along with six and twelve deniers (¼ and ½ sols). The 1791-93 issues bear the bust of the king but his ouster forced the removal of his portrait. This type was hurriedly and crudely made and is rarely found better than Very Good.

Recorded mintage: unknown but a scarce mint.

Specification: 24.47 g, bronze or brass, 36 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM-603.4; Gad-25.

Sources:

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.
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 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 1791-BB 2 sols

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