___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ AN IMPORTANT COLLECTION OF FRENCH COINS Essais and Piedforts 2001 Republic, Copper Essai Monneron Monnaie de Confiance 2-Sols, Year 1, 1792, by Dupré, Hercules kneeling breaking royal sceptre, owl behind, rev pyramid, plain edge, 15.40g, 32mm (as VG 342, but plain edge; Maz 332a; Reynaud 8a). Extremely fine. £150-200 2002 Louis Philippe (1830-1848), Bronze Essai 3-Centimes and 2-Centimes, undated (1831-1842), by Domard, first with laureate head right, second with laureate head left, rev value over ESSAI within wreath, 6.68g, 4.53g (Gad 115, 95; VG 2800, 2801). Minor edge faults, residual lustre, both extremely fine.(2) £250-350 2003 Second Republic (1848-1852), Copper Essai Centime, 1851, by Barre, head of Louis Napoleon left, rev ESSAI DE BRONZE 1851, 1.00g (Gad 85). Some lustre, about extremely fine, rare. £200-300 2004 Second Republic, White Metal Essai 10-Centimes (2), 1848, by Barre and Rogat, 8.42, 8.23g (Gad 218, 239A); Copper Franc, undated (1848), small size, by Barre, 4.38g, 23mm (Gad 456a); Copper Essai 10-Centimes, 1848, by Farochon, 13.94g (Gad 225). First with flecked and slightly curved flan, the Franc good very fine and cancelled, otherwise generally about extremely fine. (4) £150-200 2005 Second Republic, Brass Piedfort Essai 5-Francs, 1848, unsigned, capped Liberty head left, rev value and date within wreath, edge inscribed + CONCOURS MONETAIRE + PIEDFORT, 55.08g (VG 3096 var; Maz 1385 var). Extremely fine, rare. £250-350 2006 Third Republic (1871-1940), Cupro-nickel Essai 100-Francs, 19(29), by Bazor, Paris mint, winged head of Republic left, rev corn ear between laurel and oak branch, reeded edge, 3.53g (Gad 5238; cf KM 880). In NGC holder graded MS65, minor spots on reverse, very rare. £800-1000 2007 Third Republic, Cupro-aluminium Essai 100-Francs, 1929, by Bazor, obv ESSAI, 3.42g (Gad 1148); Nickel Essai TM ‘2’, and TM ‘1’, undated (late 19th Century), by Theodore Michelin (Gad 259.2, 259.1); Provisional Government, Aluminium Essai 5-Francs, 1945, by Lavrillier, 3.89g (Gad 145.1). First with small reverse spot, the TM ‘1’ with reverse spots, otherwise generally about extremely fine or better. (4) £250-300 2008 Third Republic, Silver Piedfort Essai 20-Francs, 1929, by Turin, rev ESSAI, plain edge with incuse stamp ARGENT, 40.04g (Gad 199.EP). Light tone, almost mint state and extremely rare, only 29 struck. £400-500 2009 Third Republic, Cupro-aluminium Essai 20-Francs and 10-Francs, 1929, by Turin, rev ESSAI, grained edges, 17.67g, 8.86g (Gad 199.5, 169.3). Some spots and handling marks on the 20-Francs, mostly on the obverse, otherwise nearly as struck. (2) £150-200 2010 2011 2010 Third Republic, Nickel Essai 20-Francs, 1938, by Turin, rev ESSAI, without beading on rim, plain edge, 17.44g, 33mm (Gad -; cf Gad 200.2 for grained edge). About extremely fine with faint traces of concentric ‘guide-lines’ on each side, exceedingly rare, possibly unique. £800-1000 Gadoury lists a similar piece with a grained edge and states that there is only one known specimen. 2011 Third Republic, Nickel Essai 20-Francs, 1938, by Turin, rev ESSAI, beaded rim, grained edge, 19.80g (Gad 200.3). Virtually mint state, attractive and very rare. £1000-1200 2012 Third Republic, Cupro-nickel Essai 20-Francs, 1939, by Turin, rev narrow ESSAI, beaded rim, grained edge, 16.13g (Gad 200.12). Uneven tone on the obverse, slight handling marks, otherwise good extremely fine, very rare. £700-900 2013 Third Republic, Silver Piedfort Essai 10-Francs, 1929, by Turin, rev ESSAI, plain edge with incuse stamp ARGENT, 19.85g (Gad 173.EP). Minor marks by eye, good extremely fine, rare. £350-400 Mintage not recorded, however only 29 of the comparable Essai Piedfort 20-Francs were struck (see Gad 199.EP and lot 2008). 2014 Third Republic, Silver Essai 10-Francs, 1929, by Turin, rev ESSAI, grained edge, polished flan, 10.02g (Gad 169.1). Residual lustre, nearly mint state, toned, extremely rare with only 9 struck. £1800-2200 2015 Third Republic, Nickel Essai 5-Francs, 18(-), Hercules type, by Dupré, plain edge, 20.16g (Gad 132.1). Good extremely fine, rare. £400-500 2016 Third Republic, Silver Essai 5-Francs, 1898, matt finish, by Roty, Semeuse type, obv ESSAI, raised edge inscription, 25.04g, 37mm (Gad 131.1). Attractive tone, small spot behind Liberty, nearly mint state and very rare, only 75 struck. £5000-7000 ex Brand collection 2017 Third Republic, Silvered-bronze Essai 5-Francs, 1933, by Turin, rev ESSAI and cornucopiae within punch below FRATERNITE, grained edge, 5.02g (Gad 140.10). Good extremely fine, light tone, exceedingly rare with only 2 examples recorded. £800-1000 2018 Third Republic, Nickel Essai 5-Francs, 1933, by Lavrillier, rev ESSAI, plain edge, 11.92g (Gad 141.7), nearly mint state; another in Cupro-aluminium, 1939, 11.86g (Gad 141.10). Good extremely fine, toned, rare, probably less than 20 known. (2) £600-800 2019 Third Republic, Nickel Essai 5-Francs, 1933, by Lavrillier, rev ESSAI, plain edge, 12.02g (Gad 141.7). Minor reverse spotting, about extremely fine. £100-150 2020 Third Republic, Silver Piedfort 2-Francs, 1898, by Roty, Semeuse type, ARGENT and cornucopiae incuse on plain edge, 17.71g (Gad 111.P2). A little spotty on reverse, otherwise nearly mint state, toned, rare. £180-220 2021 Third Republic, Cupro-aluminium Piedfort Essai 2-Francs, Franc and 50-Centimes, 1920, by Domard, plain edges, obv ESSAI, 15.89g, 8.05g, 3.95g (Gad 112.PI, 95EP, 82EP). Generally nearly mint state. (3) £500-700 2022 Third Republic, Silver Essai 2-Francs, 1920, by Domard, obv ESSAI, grained edge, 9.86g (Gad 112.2). Extremely fine and very rare, estimated that only 40 exist. £600-800 2023 Third Republic, Silver Piedfort Essai 2-Francs and Franc, 1927, by Roty, Semeuse type, ARGENT ESSAI incuse on plain edges, 20.04g, 9.95g (Gad 111.EP1, 94.EP). Attractive toning on the obverses, particularly the 2-Francs, a little uneven on reverses, generally about as struck. (2) £600-800 2024 Third Republic, Silver Piedfort 2-Francs, 1928, by Roty, Semeuse type, plain edge, 19.89g (Gad 111.P3). About as struck, toned. £400-500 2025 Third Republic, Cupro-aluminium Piedfort Essai 2-Francs, Franc and 50-Centimes, 1931, by Morlon, plain edges, rev ESSAI, 13.75g, 6.60g, 3.28g (Gad 113.EP, 97.EP, 84.EP). Good extremely fine to nearly mint state. (3) £400-500 2026 Third Republic, Cupro-aluminium Essai 2-Francs, Franc and 50-Centimes, 1931, by Morlon, plain edges, rev ESSAI, 7.79g, 4.00g, 1.98g (Gad 113.6, 97.1, 84.1). Extremely fine to good extremely fine. (3) £200-300 2027 Third Republic, Cupro-aluminium Essai 2-Francs and Franc, 1931, by Morlon, rev ESSAI, plain edges, 7.88g, 3.91g (Gad 113.6, 97.1). Light obverse spots, otherwise extremely fine or better. (2) £150-200 2028 Third Republic, Maillechort (Nickel-silver) Essai Franc, 1920, by Domard, obv ESSAI, grained edge, 4.44g (Gad 95.9). Mint state. £250-300 2029 Third Republic, Cupro-aluminium Essai 50-Centimes, 1921, by Domard, obv ESSAI on obverse, DOMARD to left of date, grained edge, 1.95g (Gad 82.3). Nearly mint state / good extremely fine. £200-250 2030 Third Republic, Maillechort (Nickel-silver) Piedfort 25-Centimes, 1904, by Patey, MCHORT and stamp incuse on edge, 22 sided edge, 9.91g (Gad 62.P1), about extremely fine;Aluminium Essai 10-Centimes, 1909, by Rude, rev ESSAI, plain edge, 1.99g (Gad 35.5), almost mint state. (2) £200-300 2031 Third Republic, Nickel Essai 25-Centimes, 1913, by Lindauer, small size, MES underlined, ESSAI within C, 3.03g (Gad 77.2). Nearly mint state, rare. £600-800 2032 Third Republic, Nickel Essai 25-Centimes (2), 1914, by Pillet, cockerel and rising sun, rev Liberty cap on fasces, two sizes, 5.08g and 3.04g (Gad 73.7, 73.8). Almost as struck. (2) £400-500 2033 Third Republic, Nickel Piedfort Essai 25-Centimes, 1914, 10-Centimes, 1914, and 5-Centimes, 1920, small size, by Lindauer, all ESSAI within C, first two with MES underlined, 9.91g, 8.02g, 3.95g (Gad 77EP, 39EP, 19EP). Extremely fine or better, the 10-Centimes rare.(3) £700-900 2034 Third Republic, Maillechort (Nickel-silver) Essai 25-Centimes, 1914, by Lindauer, MES underligned, ESSAI within C, 3.92g (Gad 77.9); Cupro-nickel Essai 5-Centimes, 1920, by Lindauer, small size, ESSAI within C, 1.99g (Gad 19.2), some very minor handling marks, otherwise nearly mint state; with Error Strikings, Cupro-nickel 10-Centimes, 1921, and 5-Centimes (2), 1921, 1923, with off-struck central holes (Gad 286, 170, note). Generally