Heritage World Coin Auctions
March Signature Sale 3096 25-27 Mar 2021
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France
Republic gold Proof Essai 100 Francs 1878 PR66 Cameo NGC, KM-E34, Gad-1137, Maz-2112a (R5), VG-3903. Plain edge. Large characters variety. An incredible rarity both in terms of its type and certified condition, this immaculate 100 Francs Essai easily pushes past any reasonable limit of preservation for the issue to attain the title of "finest certified" across both major grading services. Even a cursory inspection reveals that this honor is well-deserved. Awe-inspiring brilliance careens over the surfaces with ease and grace, tempered only in its intensity by a delicate surface tone that speaks to a level of originality that can be expected of few coins nearly 150 years in age. Every feature rises in near-medallic proportion over the serene fields, contrasting cleanly against the background by virtue of a gentle golden frost that extends to even the highest points of the designs. Prolonged examination yields nothing to be desired, with the usual hairlines that typically accompany Proofs (even those in higher technical states), essentially absent from this offering. For comparison, we note that a PR65 Cameo representative of the smaller characters type (reported as being of a lesser rarity than this variety by Mazard), sold in a European auction in October of 2020 for a hammer price of 220,000 Euros, excluding buyer's premium. Accordingly, we can only anticipate what this meaningfully finer and aesthetically sublime offering will achieve when it ultimately crosses the auction block.
Ex. Numismatica Genevensis Auction 2 (November 2002, Lot 446)
https://coins.ha.com/itm/france/france-republic-gold-proof-essai-100-francs-1878-pr66-cameo-ngc-/a/3096-30190.s?type=CoinArchives3096
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 150000-250000 USD
Republic gold Proof Essai 100 Francs 1878 PR66 Cameo NGC, KM-E34, Gad-1137, Maz-2112a (R5), VG-3903. Plain edge. Large characters variety. An incredible rarity both in terms of its type and certified condition, this immaculate 100 Francs Essai easily pushes past any reasonable limit of preservation for the issue to attain the title of "finest certified" across both major grading services. Even a cursory inspection reveals that this honor is well-deserved. Awe-inspiring brilliance careens over the surfaces with ease and grace, tempered only in its intensity by a delicate surface tone that speaks to a level of originality that can be expected of few coins nearly 150 years in age. Every feature rises in near-medallic proportion over the serene fields, contrasting cleanly against the background by virtue of a gentle golden frost that extends to even the highest points of the designs. Prolonged examination yields nothing to be desired, with the usual hairlines that typically accompany Proofs (even those in higher technical states), essentially absent from this offering. For comparison, we note that a PR65 Cameo representative of the smaller characters type (reported as being of a lesser rarity than this variety by Mazard), sold in a European auction in October of 2020 for a hammer price of 220,000 Euros, excluding buyer's premium. Accordingly, we can only anticipate what this meaningfully finer and aesthetically sublime offering will achieve when it ultimately crosses the auction block.
Ex. Numismatica Genevensis Auction 2 (November 2002, Lot 446)
https://coins.ha.com/itm/france/france-republic-gold-proof-essai-100-francs-1878-pr66-cameo-ngc-/a/3096-30190.s?type=CoinArchives3096
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 150000-250000 USD