MAURITIUS, Colonial (as Îles de France et Bonaparte). French. Napoléon I. Emperor, 1804-1814. AR 10 Livres – 10 Piastres (40mm, 26.66 g, 6h). Port Louis mint. Dated 1810. Good Fine.

Electronic Auction 556
Lot: 865. Estimated: $ 500

World, Silver

Sold For $ 550. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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MAURITIUS, Colonial (as Îles de France et Bonaparte). French. Napoléon I. Emperor, 1804-1814. AR 10 Livres – 10 Piastres (40mm, 26.66 g, 6h). Port Louis mint. Dated 1810. Crowned eagle standing left, head right, clutching thunderbolts in claws / [Denomination] within wreath. MCF 9; KM 1. Toned, usual weak strike on reverse. Good Fine. Rare.

From the Libertas Collection, purchased, 23 September 1974.

‘This coinage was issued by Charles Decaen, Governor General of Pondicherry and the Isle de France, using silver captured from the Dutch East India Company ship Ovidor. The French commander Pierre Bouvet (1775-1860) was much involved in commerce raiding in the East Indies and with his 16 gun brig the Entreprenant he was successful in taking the Dutch Ovidor with only a single broadside after the ship became separated from a British convoy in the Malacca Straits. Carrying Chinese trade goods and 200,000 piastres, the silver was taken back to the Isle de France and struck into coins in 1810. However, the British captured the island in the same year and melted down the majority of the coins that had been struck.

Closing Date and Time: 21 February 2024 at 14:48:00 ET.

All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.