France 1806-K 5 francs
This specimen was lot 71286 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2025), where it sold for $145. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. Empire. 5 Francs, 1806-K. Bordeaux Mint. Napoleon I. PCGS FINE-12. A heavily worn crown, this specimen offers the earlier, non-laureate portrait of the emperor. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Stu Witham on 8 September 1970)." Shown is a Napoleonic five francs struck at the Bordeaux mint in 1806-07. It is a somewhat common type struck two years only. The various designs of Napoleonic five francs form eight distinct types of which this is the third, struck 1804-06 (AN 13-14) with a complete set of this type comprising 23 date and mintmark combinations, some very rare. This date is scarce for the type, being priced multiples of the common date (1806-A). It was officially withdrawn from circulation in 1928 and demonetized in 2005 but ceased to circulate in France after World War One.
Recorded mintage: 28,834[2], a scarce date.
Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver, 37 mm diameter, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE. Designed by Nicholas Brenet, 1770-1846, and Jean-Pierre Droz, 1746-1823.
Catalog reference: Dav-83; F.304/6, KM-673.7; Gad-581.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [2]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, September 2025 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, including Selections from the Richard Margolis Collection and Selections from the L.E. Bruun Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
Link to:
- An 14-K ¼ franc
- An 14-K 2 francs
- An 14-K 5 francs
- 1806-A ¼ franc
- 1806-K ¼ franc
- 1806-L ¼ franc
- 1806-A ½ franc
- 1806-I ½ franc
- 1806-K ½ franc
- 1806-L ½ franc
- 1806-Q ½ franc
- 1806-A franc
- 1806-K franc
- 1806-L franc
- 1806-A 2 francs
- 1806-BB 2 francs
- 1806-I 2 francs
- 1806-L 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
- Coins and currency dated 1806