France L'AN5-A decime
This type was struck An 5 to An 9 (1796-1801) in large quantities (Le Franc[1] estimates nearly 98 million for the series) but is very rare in nice condition. Many were hurriedly struck on bad planchets and saw long and heavy wear; collectors of the day scorned copper coinage and few were saved. This specimen is a product of the Paris mint. It was remanufactured from a double décime and is quite a bit more valuable as such. The second specimen was lot 1235 in Jean Elsen sale 145 (Brussels, September 2020), where it sold for €140 (about US$200 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"FRANCE, Directoire (1795-1799), Cu 1 décime, an 5A, Paris. Contremarqué sur 2 décimes. Très Beau. (Directory of France, 1795-99, copper one decime, year 5, Paris mint, countermarked over a two decimes. Very Fine.)"
Recorded mintage: 12,463,719 restruck plus 33,878,335 on new blanks.
Specification: 20 g, bronze, 32 mm diameter, decorated edge, designed by Augustin Dupré.
Catalog reference: F.128/1, KM 645.1, Gad-186.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- 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.
- [1]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
- [2]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 145, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2020.
Link to:
- L'AN 4-A décime (small module)
- AN 4-A décime (counterstamped)
- France L'AN 5 centime pattern
- L'AN 5-A large 5 centimes
- L'AN 5-BB large 5 centimes, restruck over un décime
- L'AN 5-I small 5 centimes
- L'AN 5-I large 5 centimes
- L'AN 5-R large 5 centimes
- L'AN 5-W large 5 centimes
- AN 5-B décime
- AN 5-BB décime
- AN 5-D décime
- AN 5-I décime
- AN 5-W décime
- AN 5-A 5 francs
- AN 7-BB décime
- Coins and currency dated 1796