France 1933 Bazor 5 Franc Coin
Offered here is a 1933 ‘Bazor’ nickel 5 Franc, being of the ‘dot between L and Bazor in signature’ variety, KM887, Gadoury#753a. Although the total mintage for this 1 year type is recorded as a colossal 160 078 050, the mint reported that 55 048 677 were never released, and subsequently destroyed. What is more is that Guilloteau (working from primary sources and interviews of senior officials) notes that there was a campaign by the central bank / mint through late 1933 and 1934 to remove these pieces from circulation, as owing to devaluation in the Franc, the value of the nickel content exceeded the face value. Gadoury, for his part, estimates a total of 100 000 to 150 000 surviving examples across all grades.
So, other than being a reasonably scarce type, this high-grade example is of the rarer of the two varieties (large dot between L and Bazor), making this something of a rarity (especially considering its condition. All in all, a piece for the discerning, specialized collector.
Offered here is a 1933 ‘Bazor’ nickel 5 Franc, being of the ‘dot between L and Bazor in signature’ variety, KM887, Gadoury#753a. Although the total mintage for this 1 year type is recorded as a colossal 160 078 050, the mint reported that 55 048 677 were never released, and subsequently destroyed. What is more is that Guilloteau (working from primary sources and interviews of senior officials) notes that there was a campaign by the central bank / mint through late 1933 and 1934 to remove these pieces from circulation, as owing to devaluation in the Franc, the value of the nickel content exceeded the face value. Gadoury, for his part, estimates a total of 100 000 to 150 000 surviving examples across all grades.
So, other than being a reasonably scarce type, this high-grade example is of the rarer of the two varieties (large dot between L and Bazor), making this something of a rarity (especially considering its condition. All in all, a piece for the discerning, specialized collector.
Offered here is a 1933 ‘Bazor’ nickel 5 Franc, being of the ‘dot between L and Bazor in signature’ variety, KM887, Gadoury#753a. Although the total mintage for this 1 year type is recorded as a colossal 160 078 050, the mint reported that 55 048 677 were never released, and subsequently destroyed. What is more is that Guilloteau (working from primary sources and interviews of senior officials) notes that there was a campaign by the central bank / mint through late 1933 and 1934 to remove these pieces from circulation, as owing to devaluation in the Franc, the value of the nickel content exceeded the face value. Gadoury, for his part, estimates a total of 100 000 to 150 000 surviving examples across all grades.
So, other than being a reasonably scarce type, this high-grade example is of the rarer of the two varieties (large dot between L and Bazor), making this something of a rarity (especially considering its condition. All in all, a piece for the discerning, specialized collector.