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 Replies: 10 / Views: 5,761 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
865 Posts |
Hey everyone, I'm pretty sure what I have here but just wanted to check with the experts. Any info or input on this torch privy mark is appreciated. Sorry for the glare on the pics, I scanned the coin but they didn't load properly so I'm working with cell phone pics right now. I'll try to replace them with the scans soon.   *** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. *** |
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Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
17940 Posts |
It's definitely a scarce coin. Henri Patey, who used the torch privy mark, took over as Chief Engraver of the Monnaie de Paris from Jean Lagrange (fasces privy mark) in 1896. My Victor Gadoury shows the mintage as 4,447,261 but there is no indication as to how many were made with each mark! The February 2014 edition of Monnaie Magazine, the French monthly coin magazine, values it at 120 euros in Fair, 250 in Fine, 450 in VF, 800 in EF and 1,500 euros in Uncirculated. I always find their values are a little on the high side, but it should give you an idea! (My 1989 Gadoury catalogue lists it as 550 Francs in Fine).  Edited by NumisRob
02/27/2014 1:27 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
865 Posts |
Oh wow, I had no idea about the value of what the coin was. A little higher than I expected. Thank you very much NumisRob for the info. Much appreciated. Anyone have an idea of what it would grade out as? Is it a worthy candidate for sending it in?
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
510 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
865 Posts |
Davidrj, very nice coins. I knew you'd might be here soon. I've seen you posting the french 10 centimes in the how far back thread. You said the fasces privy is the rare one. Is the fasces the rare of the two, or the torch?
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
510 Posts |
haven't got my copy of Le franc to hand, but the gist is that the Paris mintmaster suffered a severe eye injury late in 1896 and a new mintmaster took over, so the final issues of the year had the new mintmaster's privy mark of a torch
The fasces is common, torch is rare for 1896,
Accidently some 1897 were minted with the old minmaster's fasces privy mark
The fasces is VERY rare, torch is common for 1897.
David
Edited by davidrj
02/27/2014 5:00 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
865 Posts |
Oh ok, got it. Is it known how many 1897 fasces there was minted?
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
510 Posts |
Quote:
Is it known how many 1897 fasces there was minted? Le Franc 10 (2014) says 3 known, best known Fine30 (US grading)the others F29 and F28. None of them in my collection though ): The 1896 is a deliberate but scarce die change, the 1897 is an error and definitely one to look out for David Edited by davidrj
02/27/2014 7:46 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3343 Posts |
"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
Edited by thq
02/27/2014 10:22 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
865 Posts |
Wow, only 3. That is an extremely rare coin. Thanks for all the info davidrj.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1666 Posts |
Those catalog prices are laughable. One can be had in comparable condition for under $30. I look for this variety regularly and see them on ebay selling for as low as $15 in decent, but well circulated condition even when properly advertised as the torch variety. |
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Replies: 10 / Views: 5,761 |
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Posted 02/27/2014 12:57 pm
