ZARA SIEGE COINAGE

The January New York International Numismatic Convention and the Showcase Auction held by Stack’s Bowers Galleries will usher in 2017 for numismatists from around the world. Coin dealers and collectors based here in the United States will also be in attendance at the historic Waldorf Astoria hotel in Manhattan for a week’s worth of lectures, auctions and other show activities. In anticipation of this event, we begin previewing highlight coins from the auction on our blog here, and distributed through our newsletter email.

The inaugural coin has a very small mintage and a fantastic history. This coin was produced in modern day Croatia, on the Dalmatian coast during the Napoleonic Wars. Towards the end of 1813, as the Allied forces arrayed against Napoleon pushed him back towards France, the fringes of the French Empire were beginning to crumble. The French held territories on the Adriatic coast of the Balkan Peninsula (known as the Illyrian Provinces) were now vulnerable to attack by the British Navy and their Austrian allies.

During the siege of Zara, the French garrison – led by Baron Claude Roize – struck emergency coinage. Though the siege lasted for only two weeks, three denominations were created. They all share a basic design, with the example in our upcoming sale denominated at 9 Francs and 20 Centimes, the middle denomination. The obverse features a crowned slender eagle standing atop a thunderbolt facing right, with “ZARA” at the left wing and the date of “1813” on the right. The design is encapsulated within a diamond border. The reverse displays the denomination in a square stamp; “9f. 20c.” with “2. O.” above indicating (about) two ounces of silver. Overall this piece displays some sharp details in the stamps and is well preserved. This provides a fantastic view into the daily life of a besieged French soldier during the Empire of Napoleon.

To read the complete article, see:
Incredible Siege Coinage from the Napoleonic Era (www.stacksbowers.com/News/Pages/Blogs.aspx?ArticleID=2273)

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