MDC OCTOBER 2023 FRENCH COLLECTION SELECTIONS

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V26 2023 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 26, Number 41, October 8, 2023, Article 21

Here are some final selections from The French Collection offered in this month's MDC Monaco Auction No. 12. -Editor

The French Collection
presented by MDC Monnaises de Collection
Auction October 11, 2023

MDC Monnaies de collection is excited to auction The French Collection in October 2023. The collection of 540 lots, built over 40 years, includes the most beautiful coins from the French Revolution to the Fifth Republic, with a vast majority of Top Pop. Today, it is not possible to recreate such a collection. We know that many collectors will find in it the special coins they have been looking for. The auction will take place in Monaco at the Hôtel Métropole on the 11th of October 2023, from 1:30 pm to 4 pm (lots 1 to 296) and from 4:15 pm to 7 pm (lots 297 to 540), Nicolas Gimbert, Auctioneer.

Lot 114: FRANCE Hundred Days / Napoleon I (March-July 1815). 5 francs Empire, Flan bruni (PROOF) 1815, A, Paris. Av. NAPOLEON EMPEREUR. Bust to the right of Napoleon I, laureate head, below signature BRENET and Tr. Rv. FRENCH EMPIRE (date). In a crown formed of two branches: 5 FRANCS. G.595-F.307; Silver - 25 g - 37 mm - 6 h. Top Pop (2): it's the most beautiful graded coin!

PCGS PR63+. Burnished flan (PROOF), and centered and neat strike. Collector's patina with bluish reflections. The other known copy in PR63+ made $60,000 on August 25, 2021 at Stack's Bowers. Almost Fleur de Coin.
Starting price: 10000 €

Lot 137: FRANCE Charles X (1824-1830). 2 francs, fluted edge, Flan bruni (PROOF) 1830, A, Paris. Av. CHARLES X KING OF FRANCE. Bare head left, signature MICHAUT and T. Rv below. Crowned shield of France, accosted with 2 - F, between two laurel branches, below (different) (date) (mint). G.516a - F.259; Silver - 10 g - 27 mm - 6 h. Top Pop: it's the only graded coin!

PCGS PF64. Browned flan (PROOF). Fluted edge. A micro-scratch on the bust otherwise in mint condition, with mirror fields. Of the greatest rarity! Almost Fleur de Coin.
Starting price: 6000 €

Lot 152: FRANCE Louis-Philippe I (1830-1848). Essay of 5 francs to the Charter, 1st type with charters inscribed in relief, edge in relief 1830, A, Paris. Av. LOUIS PHILIPPE I - KING OF THE FRENCH. Bare head on the right, signature NP TIOLIER. Rev. TITLE 900 MIL. - WEIGHT 25 GRAM. On a scepter and the hand of Justice posed in saltire, accompanied by flags in saltire, the tables with the CHARTER OF 1830, under a crown. Below 5 - F and (workshop) TEST (different). G.672a - Maz.1109; Silver - 24.95 g - 37 mm - 6 h. Top Pop: it's the most beautiful graded coin!

NGC MS 63. Edge in relief: GOD PROTEGE LA FRANCE. Tables in relief on the reverse. With a deep collectible gray patina. Very rare. Superb at Fleur de Coin.
Starting price: 2000 €

Lot 222: FRANCE 2nd Republic (1848-1852). Proof of 5 francs Ceres in gold, Special mint (SP) 1849, A, Paris. Av. FRENCH REPUBLIC. Head of the Republic to the left in Ceres, under a star, below signature EA OUDINÉ. F. Rev. (branch) FREEDOM. EQUALITY. FRATERNITY. In a crown formed of two branches: 5 FRANCS (date) and below (different) (mint) (different). Maz.1214-G.719 (1989); Gold - 25 g - 37 mm - 6 h. Top Pop: it's the only graded coin!

PCGS SP66. Special strike (SP) with matt reliefs on mirror fields. Smooth edge. Minimal marks on the border on the obverse at 5 o'clock and on the reverse at 12 o'clock. Of exceptional quality with its striking velvet! Missing from the Farouk collection and undoubtedly unique! Corner flower.
Starting price: 100,000 €

Lot 236: FRANCE 2nd Republic (1848-1852). 10 francs Cérès, Flan bruni (PROOF) 1851, A, Paris. Av. FRENCH REPUBLIC. Head of the Republic to the right in Ceres, under a star, between a beam and a branch; below signature L. MERLEY. Rev. FREEDOM. EQUALITY. FRATERNITY. In a wreath formed of an olive branch and an oak branch: 10 FRANCS. Below (workshop) and (date). G.1012 - F.504 - Fr.567; Gold - 3.22 g - 19 mm - 6 h. Top Pop: it's the most beautiful graded coin!

NGC PF 64. Burnished blank (PROOF) and perfect strike. A minimal rust spot on the right. Very rare. Corner flower.
Starting price: 3000 €

Lot 249: FRANCE 2nd Republic (1848-1852). 20 francs Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, Flan bruni (PROOF) 1852, A, Paris. Av. LOUIS-NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Bare head right. Below, signature BARRE and (different). Rev. FRENCH REPUBLIC. In a crown formed of two branches: 20 FRANCS (date) and below (mint). G.1060 - F.530 - Fr.568; Gold - 6.45 g - 21 mm - 6 h. It's the second highest grade! From the Mortimer Hammel collection, Stack's 1982.

PCGS PR64 DCAM. Browned flan (PROOF). Almost in its mint condition with the mirror fields (tiny hairlines) and the detached reliefs, with an intense cameo appearance (DCAM). Deep orange patina. Very rare. Almost Fleur de Coin.
Starting price: 10000 €

Lot 272: FRANCE Second Empire / Napoleon III (1852-1870) Trial minting of 50 francs bare head, Special Frappe (SP) 1854, Paris. Av. NAPOLEON III EMPEREUR / * ESSAY (date) *. Bare head to the left, BARRE signature below. Rev. FRENCH EMPIRE / * 50 FRANCS *. In the centre, an eagle with outstretched wings on a thunderbolt. Maz.1605 - G.1110a; Gold - 16.12 g - 33 mm - 6 h. Top Pop: it's the only graded coin!

PCGS SP62. Special Strike (SP). Only minimal micro-scratches and hairlines. Orange patina. Very rare. Superb at Fleur de Coin.
Starting price: 60000 €

Lot 293: Lot 293. FRANCE Second Empire / Napoleon III (1852-1870) Essay of 100 francs laureate head, Special mint (SP) 1861, Paris. Av. NAPOLEON III EMPEROR. Laureate head on the right, below (star) and BARRE signature. Rev. FRENCH EMPIRE. Imperial arms placed on a crowned mantle and debruising on the scepter and the hand of justice, accosted by 100 - FRs; below (star) (date) (different). G.1136a - Maz.1602; Gold - 32.25 g - 35 mm - 6 h. it's the second highest graded coin!

PCGS SP65. Smooth edge. Slight golden patina. Matt reliefs on mirror fields. Corner flower.
Starting price: 200,000 €

Lot 425: FRANCE Third Republic (1870-1940). Pre-series of 20 francs Marianne, Special mint (SP) 1898, Paris. Av. FRENCH REPUBLIC. Laureate head of the Republic on the right, signature JC CHAPLAIN. Rev. FREEDOM. EQUALITY.FRATERNITY. 20 - Fcs. Rooster at left; in the exergue (date). GEM.276.5 - G.1064 - Fr.596; Gold - 6.45 g - 21 mm - 6 h. Top Pop: it's the only graded coin!

PCGS SP63. Without different and embossed edges. Special Strike (SP). Slightly matte appearance. Very rare and probably the third known copy! Almost Fleur de Coin.
Starting price: 12000 €