The New York Sale
Auction 49 15 Jan 2020
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France
Napoleon I (1804-1814). Gold 40 Francs, 1812-A (Paris). Laureate head left. Rev. Value within wreath, date below (Fr 505; KM 696.1; Gad 1084). In NGC holder graded MS 64. Lovely original mint bloom. Rare in top grades. Value $1,500 - UP
These gold 20- and 40-franc pieces represent the final stage in the development of Napoleon's imperial coinage. Not only do they feature the laureate portrait introduced in 1807, but they finally omit all mention of the French Republic on the reverse. All pretense is gone and the reverse legend openly names the French Empire. This transformation from republic to empire on the coinage only took place in 1809, the year in which Napoleon defeated an alliance of the Austrian Empire, Great Britain, and several German states in the War of the Fifth Coalition. However, the present issues were produced in a rather different historical context. In 1811 Napoleon began preparations for a full-scale invasion of Russia. The actual campaign took place in 1812 and ended in disaster when the Russians burned their crops and Moscow itself ahead of the advancing Grande Armée. Napoleon's army was destroyed as it attempted to retreat through the bitter Russian winter. This blow to French morale and the great loss of trained military manpower played an important role in Napoleon's defeat by the Sixth Coalition two years later.
Napoleon I (1804-1814). Gold 40 Francs, 1812-A (Paris). Laureate head left. Rev. Value within wreath, date below (Fr 505; KM 696.1; Gad 1084). In NGC holder graded MS 64. Lovely original mint bloom. Rare in top grades. Value $1,500 - UP
These gold 20- and 40-franc pieces represent the final stage in the development of Napoleon's imperial coinage. Not only do they feature the laureate portrait introduced in 1807, but they finally omit all mention of the French Republic on the reverse. All pretense is gone and the reverse legend openly names the French Empire. This transformation from republic to empire on the coinage only took place in 1809, the year in which Napoleon defeated an alliance of the Austrian Empire, Great Britain, and several German states in the War of the Fifth Coalition. However, the present issues were produced in a rather different historical context. In 1811 Napoleon began preparations for a full-scale invasion of Russia. The actual campaign took place in 1812 and ended in disaster when the Russians burned their crops and Moscow itself ahead of the advancing Grande Armée. Napoleon's army was destroyed as it attempted to retreat through the bitter Russian winter. This blow to French morale and the great loss of trained military manpower played an important role in Napoleon's defeat by the Sixth Coalition two years later.