FRANCE, Second Empire. Napoléon IV. Pretender, 1873-1879. Altered CU 10 Centimes (30mm, 9.57 g, 6h). The Death of Napoléon IV. Made circa 1879.

Electronic Auction 503
Lot: 656. Estimated: $ 100

World Medals, Copper

Sold For $ 140. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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FRANCE, Second Empire. Napoléon IV. Pretender, 1873-1879. Altered CU 10 Centimes (30mm, 9.57 g, 6h). The Death of Napoléon IV. Made circa 1879. 10 Centimes of Napoléon III, with the legend altered to read NAPOLEON IV EMPERUR, the date to 1879. The portrait altered to that of Napoléon IV, with exaggerated ear. Brown surfaces. VF. An extremely rare alteration.

From the J. Eric Engstrom Collection, purchased from Alfred Szego.

After his father’s abdication in 1870, Prince Imperial Louis-Napoléon moved to england, where he joined the British Army. The former emperor’s death in 1873 led the Bonpartist faction in France to proclaim him emperor, but this was never recognized. Against the advice of both his French supporters and British command, Louis-Napoléon insisted on being sent to Africa at the outbreak of the Anglo-Zulu War. He would die in battle in 1879, at the tip of a Zulu assegai.

Closing Date and Time: 3 November 2021 at 13:38:20 ET.

All winning bids are subject to an 18% buyer’s fee.