Watch List notes:

France, Third Republic (1871-1940). . 100 Francs, 1896 A, Paris Mint, gold, weight 32.25 g, .900 fine gold, diameter 35 mm, lettered edge DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE , ref. Monnaies Semi Modernes (1805- 1899) Gad. 1137, Schl. 408. Fr. 590, F.552/10.. . . . Designed by Albert-DesirÈ BarrÈ (1818-78), this type was struck from 1878 to 1906. Noteworthy is that the combined mintage for all these years was 274,000 of this "Genie" type. In 1896 , only 400 coins were struck for this type. From1907 to 1914, year at which the mintage of all gold coins was suspended, the edge lettering was changed to read "LIBERTE EGALITE FRATERNITE" following the 1905 French law on Separation of Churches and State (12/9/1905).. . . Exceptionally low mintage with only 400 struck (key rare date), making this choice large gold piece an extremely rare French Gold 100 Francs coin seldom seen at auction in such condition (Extremely Fine, SPL), lustrous gold mint patina and strong grade PCGS MS62.. . . compare Sincona (sale 18, lot 2331, May 2014), where a similar exemplary was sold for CHF 9,500.



(8000 - 10000 USD)