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Auction: 330 - A Selection of Fine World Coins and Medals at NY INC, Waldorf Astoria
Lot: 242

France - Ile de la Reunion, Vth Republic

Pattern (ESSAI) 1 Franc, 1896, Paris mint, cupro-nickel, weight 5 g., diameter 25mm, plain edge, ref. Lec. 43.

Obv. bust of Mercure left, underneath signature LAGRANGE, legend RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE * ILE DE LA RÉUNION *, rev. centered legend BON POUR UN FRANC and date 1896 i circular legend CONTRE-VALEUR DÉPOSÉE * AU TRÉSOR COLONIAL. *.

Very rare variety pattern (Lec. 43) as more often found in other nickel -silver variety (Lec. 44 in Maillechort). Definitively a gem essai/pattern in SP61 representative of the late XIXth century coinage for this former French Colony, now part of France since 1965.
PCGS SP61

Sold for
$500