Zara. French Occupation Siege 18 Francs 40 Centimes (4 Onces) 1813 AU53 NGC, KM4, Dav-47, Herinek-1214, CNI-VIc.1. 119.1gm. Small punch variety (17mm). Rarely do we see the largest denomination of this fascinating and highly collectible series, let alone twice in the same sale. The piece at hand, perhaps a touch conservatively graded, bears only trivial rub to the impressed spreadwing eagle, a common symbol utilized throughout the Napoleonic era. The relatively small lozenge, in comparison to its large-size counterpart in the previous lot, is struck upon an expansive silver round decorated in wholly original surfaces decorated in a pleasing slate patination and features general striking weakness and the occasional rim ding, as is common to these issues. The offering at hand ranks in the upper echelons of certified examples and tied for second finest with one other small punch and the large punch offered here, topped only by a single AU58 Heritage also sold in March of this year.

HID09801242017

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