Featured lot selected by the auctions House.
MDC Monnaies de Collection
1753
-
FRANCE - FRANCE
See original version (French)
1753
-
FRANCE - FRANCE
See original version (French)
Estimate €150,000
Voluntary lot
Description
FRANCE - FRANCE
First Empire / Napoleon I (1804–1814). Gold proof 5-franc République coin, Special Strike (SP) 1807, A, Paris.
Obverse: NAPOLEON – EMPEREUR. Laureate head facing right, signature ‘BRENET’ and, below, ‘Tr’ in cursive.
Rev. RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE. Within a wreath formed of two branches: ‘5 FRANCS’, below (variant) (date). (mint).
G.583 – Maz.566a (R6) – VG.1892 – TT.1060.1 and pp. 193–196; Gold – 42.19 g – 37 mm – 6 h
Top Pop (2): this is the finest graded specimen!
NGC PF 61 (8772183-002).
Special strike. With the re-cessed edge inscription DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE. Some golden highlights, particularly on the obverse. Superb.
In August 1807, the Monetary Administration requested the addition of a laurel wreath to “the head of our August Emperor”. For 15 August, the Minister added that he wished two prestigious gold examples of the 5-franc coin to be struck, “to be presented to the Emperor on his name day”. On 10 August, Brenet submitted the new effigy die, which was ready, and it was then handed over to Tiolier so that minting could begin as soon as possible. On 13 August, the Mint Administration stated that the two gold specimens requested would be struck, along with a further 25 gold blanks that had been prepared. On 24 August, however, the director requested reimbursement for 38 coins “minted for medals” (rather than 27), 37 of which had reportedly been presented “to His Imperial Majesty on 17 August”. Combrouse, *Décaméron*, 1844, notes the existence of this prestigious coin in the collections of the “Numismatic Museum” (presumably the specimen taken from the 38), and Bucquet, Bursio, Dassy, De Reichel, Rousseau, and in several families where this fine coin serves as a wedding token” [works by P. Théret and M. Taillard, *Le FRANC*, Napoleon I, 2023]
France, First Empire / Napoleon I (1804–1814) 5-franc gold coin of the Republic, proof strike, special minting (SP), 1807 (A), Paris
Obverse: ‘NAPOLEON EMPEREUR. (Emperor Napoleon)’ A right-facing portrait wearing a laurel wreath; the engraver’s signature ‘BRENET’ is stamped at the nape of the neck, with ‘Tr’ in cursive script below
Reverse: ‘RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE. (French Republic)’; the face value ‘5 FRANCS’ inside a crown formed of two intertwined branches, with the privy mark, year and mint mark below
G.583 - Maz.566a (R6) - VG.1892 - TT.1060.1 and pp.193–196; Gold – 42.19 g – 37 mm – 6 h.
Special strike; lettered edge (intaglio)‘DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE. (God protects France)’ Very slight trial mark on the reverse rim at the 6 o’clock position; slight wear on the rims on both sides. Light cleaning marks on the field, accompanied by hairline scratches and small marks. Slight golden lustre visible on the obverse. Very fine condition
According to records, in August 1807, the Mint requested the addition of a laurel wreath to ‘the effigy of His Imperial Majesty’. On 15 August,the Minister issued a further instruction to specially mint two 5-franc gold coins ‘to be presented on the Emperor’s birthday’. On 10 August, Brunet completed the die for the new portrait and submitted it to Thiollier with instructions to commence minting as soon as possible. On 13 August,the Mint ordered the minting of 25 separately prepared gold discs in addition to the two specially minted gold coins. However, on 24 August,the Director of the Mint requested payment for 38 coins (not 27) ‘minted for use as medals’, 37 of which were said to have been ‘presented to His Imperial Majesty on 17 August’.In Combleuse’s *Decameron* (1844), it is noted that these majestic gold coins were ‘held in the Numismatic Museum (presumably one of the 38), collected by collectors(Bucquet, Bursio, Dassy, De Reichel, Rousseau), whilst several families also own them as wedding commemorative coins’ [P. Théret and M. Taillard, *Le FRANC, Napoléon Ier*, 2023].
FRANCE First Empire / Napoleon I (1804–1814). 5 franc ‘République’ gold pattern, Special Strike (SP) 1807, A, Paris.
Obverse: NAPOLEON EMPEREUR. Laureate head facing right, signature ‘BRENET’ and ‘Tr’ in cursive below.
Reverse: RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE. Within a wreath formed of two branches: ‘5 FRANCS’, below (mintmaster’s mark) (date). (mintmark).
G.583 - Maz.566a (R6) - VG.1892 - TT.1060.1 and pp. 193–196; Gold – 42.25 g – 37 mm – 6 h.
Special issue. The edge bears the inscription “DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE”. A very slight test mark at 6 o’clock on the rim of the reverse and very slight marks on the rims. Traces of light cleaning on the fields, with hairline scratches and slight marks. A few golden reflections on the obverse in particular. About Uncirculated.
In August 1807, the Mint requested that a laurel wreath be added to ‘the head of our August Emperor’. For 15 August, the Minister added that he wanted two prestige gold copies of the 5-franc coin to be minted, ‘to be presented to the Emperor on his birthday’. On 10 August, Brenet submitted the new effigy die, which was ready, and then handed it over to Tiolier to begin minting as soon as possible. On 13 August, the Monetary Administration indicated that the two gold coins requested would be minted, along with 25 other gold blanks that had been prepared. On 24 August, however, the director requested payment for 38 coins ‘minted for medals’ (and not 27), 37 of which had been delivered ‘to His Imperial Majesty on 17 August’. Combrouse, *Décaméron*, 1844, mentions the existence of this prestigious coin in the collections of the ‘Musée monétaire’ (the coin taken from the 38, no doubt), and Bucquet, Bursio, Dassy, De Reichel, Rousseau, and in several families where this beautiful coin is used as a wedding coin” [works by P. Théret and M. Taillard, *Le FRANC, Napoléon Ier*, 2023].
See original version (French)
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