France 100 francs piedfort mintage

So I just don't believe there were only 5,000 pieces struck.  Blanchard was selling these as bullion by the roll back in the day.  And you see them now on eBay listed dozens at a time.  I wonder how many were REALLY minted ……………    Does anyone have a contact at M.D.P. ?  TC

Hello, are you sure you are not referring to the circulating version?

N#29

Weight & thickness for the circulating 15g /2.2mm that’s the one issued at 4 million, not the one you are referring to.

No,  I think there are MUCH more than 5,000 of the PIEDFORT coins struck.  They are MUCH more common than the 5,000 indicates.  I think the 5,000 figure is an error.  Does anyone have a contact an Monnaie De Paris ?   

These coins have always traded at or barely above melt value.  If I could purchase ANY other silver world coin with a mintage of 5,000, for a comparable price , I would jump at the chance.  TC

The 1987 Lafayette piedfort shows 100,000 pieces minted.  This seems more likely appropriate for the 1986 piedfort.  TC

Difficult to get some answer from the MDP.

contact through the website below.

https://www.monnaiedeparis.fr/en/contact

use to have a magazine with good contact with them mint qty were provided (depending on the responsible at the MDP) 

« Numismatique et change « was the name of the magazine 

post something on the French Forum maybe someone can help you out.

Any proof that is more than anecdotal?

That is what I am looking for.  I have posted on Numismatique.com and am awaiting reply ………  TC

Difficult to get some answer from the MDP.

contact through the website below.

https://www.monnaiedeparis.fr/en/contact

use to have a magazine with good contact with them mint qty were provided (depending on the responsible at the MDP) 

« Numismatique et change « was the name of the magazine 

post something on the French Forum maybe someone can help you out.

I agree with your assessment, that based on the number available, the mintage must be much much greater than the 5,000 shown in catalogs. My guess is they (the mint) accidentally dropped a zero, and the real number is 50,000.

Thank you for your comments.  I sent an email to MdP and am waiting for a response. Not holding my breath ……………..  TC

Oklahoman

Any proof that is more than anecdotal?

OK then - how about looking at the Numista Rarity Index .  1986 piedfort is 31 “5000” coins.

1987 piedfort N.R.I. is 50 - 100,000 coins.  Hmmmmmmm ….  that 5000 figure still looks kinda fishy to me.   TC

Sooo…you have nothing more than anecdotal is what you are saying.   The Numista rarity is just within the pool of Numista members, and even then, only the members who have chosen to list their items.  

If you do not have something more concrete than “Fishy” and Numista rarity…it is not going to change.  I for one am glad that Numista doesnt operate on “fishy”, they operate on facts.

OK - my bad.  What I should have specified is the mintage for the UNCIRCULATED Piedfort 100 francs.  I saw a photo of a M.d.P certificate for the PROOF piedfort and it shows 5000 minted.  Still waiting for response from French sources …….  TC

It will be good to see what the French have to say.  I have these piedforts as well…and also the unc and proof Lafayette piedforts.  I think that even the silver fineness is different depending on the conditions…

I always struggle when there is not enough information and insight…Pobjoy Mint will always be a frustration because of things like this…mintages should be available and explainable..

I hope someday soon I get data from France, but not optimistic.  Just looking around eBay shows a LOT of unc. piedforts.  Are there any other source(s) I could try ?  I'll try Krause.  TC

Krause has 5,000. 

5000 PROOFS.  MANY more uncs. - but how many ???

tcmusic11

5000 PROOFS.  MANY more uncs. - but how many ???

Doesn't say PROOFS but OK. I was just answering your question not taking a stand.  I do find it interesting that 5,000 is well above others in the same time period. 

The one you mentioned does have a much larger mintage and Krause does list both proof mintage and UNC mintage.

A mintage of 5000 is not really small by world standards.  In fact, it is dead common.  Just because it may have been sold in the US as a bullion piece or be available in quantity does not necessarily mean that the mintages are wrong.   We should remember  that these piedfort pieces were also struck in a standard format as well.  18000 were struck in silver, others in gold platinum and palladium.