Certification NGC
Distinctive feature Pattern coin
Edge Plain
Face value 5 Centimes
Grading MS/PR-65
Metal Bronze
Mint Paris
Shape Round
Year of issue 1840
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Obverse: LOUIS PHILIPPE I ROI DES FRANÇAIS, laureate bust left. "BARRE 1840" below truncation.
Reverse: REFONTE DES MONNAIES DE CUIVRE / 5 / CENT. / ESSAI; denomination within wreath.
Issuer: Louis Phillipe I, King of France (1830-1848).
Specifications: Bronze, 27.5 mm, 7.5 g, coin alignment, smooth edge. Paris mint.
Grade: NGC MS65, cert. #586901-036.
Reference: Numista-71848, Guilloteau-2917, Mazard-1145, Gadoury-145a.
Provenance: gift from Josh Zachman ("kazuma78" on CoinTalk), 20 November 2020. Prior provenance to the Stacks-Bowers Galleries February 2020 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, Lot 70482.*
Notes: French essai coins were patterns; not issued for circulation, but rather as presentation pieces for proposed designs. A large variety of essais were issued in the 1840s in particular, and many are have amazing and elaborate designs. This one is a bit simpler and similar to designs on circulating coinage of the time. It was engraved and signed by Jacques-Jean Barre (1793-1855), the general engraver of the Paris mint from 1842 to 1855, whose two sons succeeded him in that position.
Comments: This coin has really stunning blue-green iridescence and reflective fields which are visible at certain angles to the light. In that respect, it resembles an even more amazing 1848 essai I once owned. Unfortunately, the Stacks-Bowers images used here are less than ideal, having been shot through the slightly scuffed plastic of the NGC slab. They do it no justice. I hope to have this reimaged and reholdered eventually.
Source : https://www.cointalk.com/threads/france-...
Collection : Sold Items