Help!! 1866 10 Franc coin

mark_dak

Not a world coin guy. This one came out of mom's SDB and can't seem to locate another with the stars next to "Barre" on the obverse and what appears to be a cross on the reverse under the wreath. 3.3g weight.

Any info would be greatly appreciated....

I'm assuming a reissue of some type but just having an issue locating a similar coin.

Sapyx

It should definitely not have stars below the portrait (those should be privy marks) and it should also definitely have a nice clear mintmark under the wreath on the obverse - "A" and "BB" are the only mintmark options. It's not a genuine French gold coin from 1866.

Given the near-accurate weight, I suspect this is a middle eastern jeweller's replica - still made of gold, just perhaps not quite as high fineness as the genuine coins. Lebanon was a common source of such pieces in the 1960s; Dubai is a common source today.

mark_dak

@Sapyx said:
It should definitely not have stars below the portrait (those should be privy marks) and it should also definitely have a nice clear mintmark under the wreath on the obverse - "A" and "BB" are the only mintmark options. It's not a genuine French gold coin from 1866.

Given the near-accurate weight, I suspect this is a middle eastern jeweller's replica - still made of gold, just perhaps not quite as high fineness as the genuine coins. Lebanon was a common source of such pieces in the 1960s; Dubai is a common source today.

Thanks for your input. I believe you're correct. It was in an 18K bezel and was most likely purchased by mom in Paris. I took it to a local dealer that specializes in foreign coinage at the coin show over the weekend. I was just surprised I could not locate another like it after quite a search. Weight came out a little closer on his scale that went out another digit. I sold it to him at bullion value maybe he could do something with it. Not something I would generally hang on to.

Mark