The January New York International Numismatic Convention and the Showcase
Auction held by Stack’s Bowers Galleries will usher in 2017 for numismatists
from around the world. Coin dealers and collectors based here in the United
States will also be in attendance at the historic Waldorf Astoria hotel in
Manhattan for a week’s worth of lectures, auctions and other show activities.
In anticipation of this event, we begin previewing highlight coins from the
auction on our blog here, and distributed through our newsletter email.
The inaugural coin has a very small mintage and a fantastic history. This
coin was produced in modern day Croatia, on the Dalmatian coast during the
Napoleonic Wars. Towards the end of 1813, as the Allied forces arrayed against
Napoleon pushed him back towards France, the fringes of the French Empire were
beginning to crumble. The French held territories on the Adriatic coast of the
Balkan Peninsula (known as the Illyrian Provinces) were now vulnerable to
attack by the British Navy and their Austrian allies.
During the siege of Zara, the French garrison – led by Baron Claude Roize
– struck emergency coinage. Though the siege lasted for only two weeks, three
denominations were created. They all share a basic design, with the example in
our upcoming sale denominated at 9 Francs and 20 Centimes, the middle
denomination. The obverse features a crowned slender eagle standing atop a
thunderbolt facing right, with “ZARA” at the left wing and the date of “1813”
on the right. The design is encapsulated within a diamond border. The reverse
displays the denomination in a square stamp; “9f. 20c.” with “2. O.” above
indicating (about) two ounces of silver. Overall this piece displays some sharp
details in the stamps and is well preserved. This provides a fantastic view
into the daily life of a besieged French soldier during the Empire of Napoleon.
We are now accepting consignments of world and ancient coins as well as
world paper money for our January 2017 New York International Auction and
Chinese and other Asian coins and currency for our April 2017 Hong Kong
Showcase Auction. If you are interested in consigning your coins and paper
currency (whether a whole collection or a single rarity) be sure to contact one
of our consignment directors.
