LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2008 April Rosemont, IL (CSNS) US Coin #1104  / 

2547

1868 $5 Dual Denomination $5-25 Francs,

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:8,500.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1868 $5 Dual Denomination $5-25 Francs,
<B>1868 $5 Dual Denomination $5-25 Francs, Judd-656, Pollock-729, Low R.7, PR66 Brown NGC.</B></I> This coin introduces three lots that numismatically document one of the many cross-cultural collaborations between the United States and France, two countries with a long record of friendship, if not always one of perfect accord. In 1868 a Congressional bill proposed to reduce the weight of the gold half eagle by 4.1 grains to make it compatible with the French 25 francs. Designer Anthony C. Paquet (who, despite his name and French ancestry, was born not in France, but in Hamburg, Germany, in 1814) was chosen to engrave the dies, featuring the dual inscription 5 DOLLARS / 25 FRANCS. The head of Liberty (or <I>La Libert+¬) </B></I>faces left, her hair entwined with two ribbons, one with a diadem and LIBERTY upon it, date below and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around. The reverse shows the dual denominations surrounded by a wreath of laurel and oak. Struck in copper with a reeded edge. <I></B></I><BR> The present example is only the third time we have ever offered a copper example of this rare pattern, and in PR66 Brown it is the finest of the three. Wonderful deep steel-blue patina evenly coats each side, and a loupe reveals only a couple of tiny lintmarks. This piece is also the single finest graded, regardless of color designation, at either NGC or PCGS (3/08). Not the usually seen quality, and far rarer than the average pattern offering. <I>Vive la diff+¬rence!</B></I><BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Coins & Currency (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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