Our August Global Showcase auction will feature countless treasures from across the numismatic spectrum, with the world portion of this colossal sale containing Part II of the highly anticipated Richard Margolis Collection. Part I, offered in our Spring Showcase Auction focused on Numismatic Americana. Part II, however, will focus specifically upon French Patterns, Trials, and Numismatic Curiosities from the reign of Louis XVI to the end of the Consulate, 1774-1804. Within this volatile period of just three decades, an immense corpus of coin designs and coining ideas was created, and Margolis was a dutiful and faithful collector of these disparate types, with a focus on their history and significance as well.
While it is difficult to pick out highlights from these consequential and often very rare items, one particular issue deserves special recognition—a likely unique gold pattern 20 Francs of Napoleon issued during his time as First Consul. Featuring expert craftsmanship and an ornamented edge that differentiates it from the normal business strikes, this stunning example may well represent a singular offering that was presented to the soon-to-be-emperor himself. No matter its specific reason for striking, it stands as a majestic and seemingly unrivaled piece of Napoleonica, one that should generate immense enthusiasm across a wide range of collectors—whether they seek world gold, patterns and trials, issues of Napoleon, or examples that know no rival.
To view our upcoming auction schedule and future offerings, please visit StacksBowers.com where you may register and participate in this and other forthcoming sales.
We are always seeking coins, medals, and paper money for our future auctions, and are currently accepting consignments for our fall Hong Kong and January NYINC auctions. Additionally, we are accepting consignments for our Collectors Choice Online (CCO) auctions, the next of which will be in September. If you would like to learn more about consigning, whether a singular item or an entire collection, please contact one of our consignment directors today and we will assist you in achieving the best possible return on your material.
