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STACK'S BOWERS: THE MARGOLIS COLLECTIONStack's Bowers will be selling the Richard Margolis Collection of World Coins and Paper Money on June 11. Select items are discussed below. -Garrett 
FRANCE. Kingdom. Brass Louis d'Or Contemporary Counterfeit, 1787-W. Imitating Lille Mint. Louis XVI. EXTREMELY FINE Details. Scratches, Bent. cf. Fr-475 (for regular issue); cf. KM-591.15 (same); cf. Gad-361 (same). Weight: 5.93 gms. Despite the noted issues, an intriguing imitation of good style. SOLD AS IS/NO RETURNS. Estimate: $100 - $200. Provenance: Acquired from Hans Schulman.
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FRANCE. Kingdom. White Metal Obverse Cliche or Trial for Ecu aux Branches d'Olivier, ND (1774)-?. Paris Mint. Louis XVI. PCGS MS-62. cf. KM-564.1 (for regular issue); cf. Gad-356 (same). By Pierre-Simon-Benjamin Duvivier. Amber-gray in tone, this example presents a great portrait of the monarch. Estimate: $1,000 - $2,000. Provenance: Acquired from Florange on 24 December 1957.
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FRANCE. Constitution. Copper Ecu de 6 Livres Essai (Pattern), Year 2/1791. Paris Mint. Louis XVI. PCGS SPECIMEN-62 Brown. Maz-69 (R3); Gad-49.(a). Plain edge. Weight: 28.41 gms. By Augustin Dupre. VERY RARE and extremely well struck, this off-metal pattern issue in copper features deep olive-brown coloring and some lighter tan hints, all while some pleasing brilliance emerges from the fields. Estimate: $1,000 - $2,000. Provenance: Acquired from the Farouk Collection in March 1954. Ex: Palace Collections of Egypt [King Farouk] (Sotheby's - 3/1954) Lot # 2173 (part of). Ex: Virgil M. Brand Collection (as "Ferrari-Brand" in Chicago Coin Club's typescript catalog [likely via Schulman], ca. 1932) Lot # 3185. Ex: Baron Phillipe de Ferrari la Renotière Collection. Click here for certification details from PCGS. Image with the PCGS TrueView logo is obtained from and is subject to a license agreement with Collectors Universe, Inc. and its divisions PCGS and PSA.
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FRANCE. Constitution. Ecu, 1793-BB/Year 5. Strasbourg Mint. Louis XVI. PCGS VF-30. KM-616; Gad-54. A VERY RARE type that is seldom encountered, this wonderful crown displays an even degree of handling and wear across its surfaces, all while remaining exceptionally wholesome and original. Given its pedigree, an even more astounding and important specimen for collections of the period. Estimate: $2,000 - $4,000. Provenance: Acquired from Lepczyk in 1977 for $220. Ex: George Sobin Collection (Joseph Lepczyk - 3/1977) Lot # 235.
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Extremely Rare Published Isle de France Issue ISLE DE FRANCE (MAURITIUS). Bronze 5 Sols Essai (Pattern), Year III/1792. Birmingham (Soho) Mint. PCGS MS-64 Brown. Lec-8A (this coin cited & illustrated); Margolis (1988), pl. 31, 6 (same). Struck for Isle de France (Mauritius). An EXTREMELY RARE and unusual type, this specimen would, upon first glance, appear to be a fairly common emission from Boulton's vast monnaies des confiance output. However, Margolis writes about the type in his 1988 article in the British Numismatic Journal, entitled "Matthew Bouton's French Ventures of 1791 and 1792; Tokens for the Monneron Frères of Paris and Isle de France," stating that "...as none of the standard works or major auction or fixed price catalogues devoted to the Revolution have described any tokens for Isle de France, it might have been reasonably concluded that these proposals for a colonial token issue never went beyond the talking stage. However, this is not so. Essays were actually prepared..." and that "two different obverse types were paired with a reverse which was struck from a badly broken die. The nature of these die-breaks indicates, I believe, that the flaws occurred during the annealing process, rather than in striking." The other example in Margolis's collection (year IV, also graded PCGS MS-64 Brown) realized a total of $38,400 in our December 2025 CCO auction (Lot # 74166), while an inferior year III, with slightly lower relief, lacking the MB initials, and merely grading UNC Details, realized a total of $19,200 in our August 2025 Global Showcase Auction (Lot # 42394). Additionally, Margolis notes that "...this is most likely the specimen listed by Jef. Dillon (Brussels) in his (circa 1938) FPL # 113." Estimate: $20,000 - $40,000. Provenance: Acquired from Jeffrey Young [via Bill Goetz] on 7 September 1985 for $550.
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FRANCE. Constitution. Bronze 5 Sols Token, Year IV/1792. Birmingham (Soho) Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-65. KM-Tn28; Maz-150. A stunning Gem, this example offers a strong strike and exceptional color, with ample glossy brilliance scattered about. Estimate: $500 - $750. Provenance: Acquired from Jacques Schulman on 21 February 1968 in Amsterdam for $3.75.
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FRANCE. Constitution. Bronze 5 Sols Token, Year IV/1792. Birmingham (Soho) Mint. PCGS MS-63. KM-Tn35; Maz-163. The popular Hercules type, this Choice specimen exudes vibrant color and exceptional surface quality. Estimate: $200 - $400. Provenance: Acquired from Bourgey in 1957.
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FRANCE. National Convention. Gilt Lead 24 Livres Contemporary Counterfeit, "Year II/1793-A". Imitating Paris Mint. ABOUT UNCIRCULATED Details. Bent. cf. Fr-478 (same); cf. KM-626.1 (same); cf. Gad-62 (same). Weight: 6.18 gms. Some of the gilding is wearing through, but this replica otherwise offers a pleasing appearance and great pedigree. SOLD AS IS/NO RETURNS. Estimate: $100 - $200. Provenance: Acquired from Münzen und Medaillen in 1962 for $4.50. Ex: Collection R.K. [Raoul Kraft] (Munzen und Medaillen - 11/1962) Lot # 431.
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FRANCE. Consulate. Silver 2 Decimes Essai (Pattern), Year 8-A (1799/1800). Paris Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-63. Maz-586a; Gad-301.(a). By Pierre-Joseph Lorthior. A SCARCE and alluring type, this pattern issue is tied with just four others for the top spot in the PCGS census. Estimate: $600 - $900. Provenance: Acquired from Winandy in 1958 for $2.75. Ex: Charles Winandy FPL (11/1958) Lot # 142.
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FRANCE. Consulate. White Metal Obverse Cliche or Trial for 5 Francs Module, ND (1802). Paris Mint. Napoleon (as First Consul). PCGS MS-62. cf. Maz-629 (for full strikings in gold & silver); cf. Gad-578e (for full striking); T&T-1701.a.4. By Pierre-Joseph Tiolier. An example of this RARE type featuring Tiolier's bareheaded bust of Napoleon, with this type being intended as a mint visit striking. Estimate: $1,000 - $2,000. Provenance: Acquired from Randolph Zander in 1956.
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FRANCE. Empire. Franc, Year 13-A (1804/5). Paris Mint. Napoleon I. PCGS AU-58. KM-656.1; Gad-443. Displaying a fairly clear overdate, this near-Mint minor offers tremendous brilliance and an enticing golden-gunmetal gray hue across both sides. Estimate: $200 - $400. Provenance: Acquired from Bernard Southgate on 17 August 1973.
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FRANCE. Empire. Demi Franc (1/2 Franc), 1807-A. Paris Mint. Napoleon I. PCGS AU-55. KM-679; Gad-397. "African Head" type. A RARE one-year type that features a fairly insensitive moniker, this lightly circulated minor presents alluring gunmetal gray toning. Estimate: $200 - $400. Provenance: Acquired from Florange on 5 October 1965 for $9.
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