Coin and Paper Money Collecting/10 Francs 1857

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Expert: - 9/23/2009


Question
i have this coin:
10 francs, Emperor napeleon III, Mint A in 1857
its condition is not very good, but the texts and images on both sides are clear... i need to know how much it worth?

Answer
Hi Mohammed,
This French coin is normally made of gold and should weigh right around 3.2 grams. One that has significant wear may be .1 or .2 grams lighter, but one that is a lot lighter, by half a gram or more is likely a counterfeit.
As far as value, in lower grade it is worth gold bullion value. This coin has .0933 ounces of actual gold weight, which on the current market would be worth $90 to $100. Coins like this with very little wear sell for about double the bullion value and a mint condition coin is up to five times bullion value.
Thanks for the question! =)

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Dmitry Livshits

Expertise

My specialty is world coins from the 18th to 20th centuries, primarily non-US foreign coins and related areas such as errors and exonumia (tokens, medals, etc.). I can answer questions relating to identification, grading, selling, preservation and evaluation of such items. In addition to catalog value, I can give you the practical market value and trends for specific types of coins. I will also take questions regarding counterfeits (both modern and antique) and on how to identify them. I am NOT knowledgeable in paper money/banknotes, ancient or "shipwreck" coins. Thank you.

Experience

Collector of world coins since early childhood. Access to a variety of auction records and reference material. You can also find me on Facebook.

Education/Credentials
A.S. in Psychology (2006), B.A. in Forensic Psychology (2008), M.A. in Forensic Psychology (2011).

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