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 Replies: 9 / Views: 3,036 |
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Valued Member
Canada
160 Posts |
O.K. I have a feeling I made a mistake I bought this coin on the sellers word that it was an error coin. When I went to do my own research, I have found nothing that indicates it's an error coin whatsoever, other than one of the same series that has the word "CINQ" spelled "CNIQ". That is the only error of this series I was able to find. The other problem is obvious in that it is heavily worn, and all I can make out is what is remaining of the "A" below the word "Centimes". I used the numismatic search engine available on the navigation bar on this site. Here is the link to the page I used as a reference. http://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/...-duid-213431 Can someone please help me out and confirm that this is or is not an error coin? I believe it is not. But would like a second opinion from someone more knowledgeable than me. I don't normally collect international coins, so I don't know much about them. I paid $30 Canadian for the Coin so it's not a huge loss, but definitely a learning lesson. I tried my best with the pictures but if they aren't good enough I am willing to break the coin out of its holder. I'm anxiously awaiting your comments! Thanks everyone!   |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
2830 Posts |
I collect French coins of this era, but I'm no expert. Coins from that period consistently display a lot of wear. I'm not sure what is meant by "A series". French coins, both before and after the Revolution, had a mint mark. "A" indicates Paris, and there were many mints operating throughout France in that era. In most years, "A" is the most commonly encountered mintmark. There were die varieties, which I wouldn't describe as errors. But, I'm looking at your coin, and I can't see any errors in it. On ebay, coins like this usually go somewhere between $5~$20. |
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Valued Member
 Canada
160 Posts |
I forgot to add... the seller stated to me that the word "CINQ" was supposed to be a number "5". I can find no data to prove this. Even after searching as best I can.
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Valued Member
United States
365 Posts |
The only hope your dealer has of not having invented an error coin is if this item is 23mm across and not 28mm. The smaller format was the earlier of these Revolutionary issues and did have the digit 5 instead of the word.
A and W are two of many mintmarks possible for the 28mm series (B,BB, I, etc.).
30 bucks is too much for this, but, as you say, it's not a big disaster. Collecting French coins in North America now for some years I've found that many dealers are a bit under-informed. This plays, obviously, to your advantage much of the time!
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
510 Posts |
It's complicated, (1) some 5 centimes are overstruck on earlier decimes - there needs to be clear evidence of the previous design to gain any price premium (2) some had the word CNIQ as a misspelling for CINQ - the rarer variety is where this as been corrected to give CI\NN\IQ like this one  (3) lots of die reusage so common overdates, over mintmarks etc, this one is 7/5 A/R (also if you like errors - this one is double struck)  (4) rare hybrids obverse of decime rather than 5 centimes (the portrait is different as its relationship with the legend (5) contemporary forgeries exist in brass All in all a fun series to collect, bargains are there to be had in the junk boxes, high grade coins are rare see http://www.lefranc.net/piece,5-centimes.htmlalso http://www.amisdufranc.org/ and select "Site Dupre" Edited by davidrj
05/26/2014 12:20 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3347 Posts |
No error that I can see, just a heavily worn 5 centimes. I can't make out the date or mint mark, so it becomes a nice pocket piece. Besides the misspelling error, there is one very valuable error found in L'an 5 cinq centimes. Between L'an 4 and 5 there was a weight increase in the copper coins. A considerable amount of restriking was done to salvage underweight coins without remelting. Usually this was done with old module 2 decimes, restriking to new module 1 decimes, and these are relatively easy to find. What are much rarer are restrikes of old module 1 decimes to new module 5 centimes: http://www.cgb.fr/cinq-centimes-dup...36452,a.htmlhttp://www.cgb.fr/cinq-centimes-dup...92862,a.htmlIn order to prove that this occurred you have to be able to see some part of the word "decime" on the reverse. Compare your coin to the linked examples. I can't see it in your photograph. "Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
Edited by thq
05/26/2014 2:47 pm
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Valued Member
Canada
160 Posts |
I can see part of the bottom of the letter "A" below where L'AN 5 should be showing. I measured the coin and it is 23mm across!.
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Valued Member
United States
365 Posts |
Well, if it's indeed 23mm, then you have something that I've not seen in any catalog, and that is probably quite rare and valuable!
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Valued Member
Canada
160 Posts |
Well, I measured again several times and the coin is 26mm across, almost 27 if I rotate it. The reeding is intact... it appears to not be perfectly round. I'm not sure what to think here.. sigh.  |
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Valued Member
United States
365 Posts |
Wear could indeed have taken rim off of it. 23mm would make it basically the size of a US or CA quarter, while 26+ makes it sound about the right size for what are often very heavily worn pieces. I have a décime from the same era that must have been used for some sort of 'industrial' purpose as the edges were rolled completely flat. Very strange looking result, I assure you. I should make a pic some time.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 3,036 |
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Posted 05/26/2014 09:51 am
