Kingdom of Westphalia
Jérôme Bonaparte, Napoleon I’s brother, was King of Westphalia from 1807-1813. The Kingdom was created by Napoleon I from territories he had conquered. In October 1813, the Kingdom of Westphalia was dissolved and in 1815 the territory was absorbed into Prussia.
Two types of coinage were minted in the King of Westphalia: francs according to the decimalized French standard, and thalers under the non-decimilized local standard.
Circulation Coins
Certain images are clickable for more detail
Coins are either minted in Cassel, Westphalia (“C”) or in Paris (“J” mint mark). The mint quality is relatively low and even the top coins have notable imperfections. Mintage is low, about 5k for the 40 franken, 40k for the 20 franken, 2k for the 10 franken, and 2k for the gold 5 franken. Mintage data for the silver denominations is unavailable.
An excellent write-up on Jérôme and his coinage is La Moneta forum by the user lorluke (here).
Restrikes exist for the 5, 10, and 20 franken coins. About 80 restrikes were minted in 1867 (see Gadoury 2023, p. 679). These restrikes have the “J” mint mark and smooth edges.
40 Franken
1813
(Image: Gadoury Oct 2023)
20 Franken
1808-1813
(Image: MDC Oct 2023)
10 Franken
5 Franken
5 Franken
2 Franken
1 Franken
1/2 Franken
<Finest Examples - 20 Franken>
The Westphalia 20 franken is one of the LMU 20 francs types with lowest mintages. It was minted in Cassel (“C” mint mark) and Paris (“J” mint mark), the mintages, per Krause, are:
1808C- 13,404
1808J - Unstated
1809C - 9,104
1809J - Unstated
1811C - 18,903
1813C - Unstated
The 1809-C may have a horse or eagle on the reverse (See Gadoury 2024, p. 684). [Pending - NGC has 1808J in horse or eagle, Gadoury has 1808J only horse]
Based on the survivorship, it appears that most of the 1811Cs were melted down. The “J” mint marks are mostly restrikes from the 1860s, though at least a couple are apparently original strikes (lettered edge).
———
[Pending / In progress - figuring out which are restrikes (several mis-slabbed).
NGC:
1808C: MS66 x1 MS64 x1
1808J (Restrike): MS65 x1, MS64 x2, MS63+ x1
Proofs:
1808J PF: PF66 Eagle x1, PF65 Eagle x1, PF63 Horse x1 (Cam) (not Restrike); PF63 Eagle x1 Restrike?
1809C: MS64 x1, MS63 x2, MS62 x4, MS61 x1
1809J: MS62 x1
1811C: MS62 x1
PCGS:
1808C: MS62 x1
1808J: MS64 x2 stated not restrike (lettered) , MS62 x1- stated not restrike (lettered) (double check - MS62 actually a restrike?)
Proofs:
1808J PF Plain Edge: PF64 Restrike
1808J PF: PFCam 65x1 Restrike
1808-C
1808C - NGC MS66
(Confirmed Lettered Edge / Non-Restrike)
(Image: Heritage May 2021 / Heritage Jun 2025)
1808C - PCGS MS64
(Unknown Edge)
(Image: Unknown x1)
1808C - NGC MS64
(Stated Lettered Edge / Non-Restrike)
(Image: Heritage Feb 2025 / MDC Oct 2023)
1808J - PCGS MS64
(Stated Lettered Edge - Presumed Mis-categorized restrike)
(Image: Unknown x1)
1808J - NGC PF63 Cameo
(Lettered Edge / Non-Restrike)
(Image: MDC Apr 2023)
1808C - PCGS MS62
(Unknown Edge)
(Image: Unknown x1)
1808-J
The 1860s restrikes are all 1808-J. Presumed restrikes unless confirmed otherwsie.
1808J - NGC PF65
(Unknown Edge - Presumed Restrike)
(Image: Unknown x1)
1808J - PCGS MS62
(Misslabbed as Non-Restrike)
(Image: See below)
1809-C
Note: The 1809 (either C or J mint marks) is not known to exist as a restrike.
1809C - NGC MS64
(Unknown Edge)
(Image: Unknown x1)
1809C - NGC MS63
(Unspecified Edge)
(Image: MDC Oct 2023)
1809C - NGC MS63
(Unspecified Edge)
(Image: Heritage Jan 2022)
1809C - NGC MS62
(Confirmed Lettered Edge / Non-Restrike)
(Image: MDC Oct 2023)
1809C - NGC MS62
(Confirmed Lettered Edge / Non-Restrike)
Image: NGC / Kunker 2022)
1809C - NGC MS62
(Unknown Edge)
(Image: Unknown x1)
1809C - NGC MS62
(Unknown Edge)
(Image: Unknown x1)
1809C - NGC MS61
(Stated Lettered Edge / Non-Restrike)
(Image: Kunker Jun 2024 / Stack’s Jan 2025)
1809-J
1809J - PCGS MS64
(Unspecified Edge)
(Image: Unknown x1)
1809J - NGC MS62
(Unspecified Edge)
(Image: Numismatica Genevensis Dec 2024 / MDC Nov 2019)
1809J - Ungraded ‘Stemp’
(Confirmed Lettered Edge / Non-Restrike)
(Image: Kunker Sep 2024)
1811
Note: The 1811 and 1813 are not known as to exist as restrikes.
1811C - NGC MS62 (Error in Slab Reverse)
(Unspecified Edge)
(Image: SIMA Oct 2023)
1813
Unknown in MS/AU. Two in XF - sold for >US$5k
Restrikes and Pattern Coins
[Placeholder for discussion on restrikes.]
1808J - NGC MS65
(Stated Smooth Edge / Restrike)
(Image: H.D. Raunch Dec 2013)
1808J - NGC PF66
(Unknown Edge - Presumed Restrike)
(Image: Unknown 1x)
1808J - PCGS PF65 Cameo
(Stated Smooth Edge / Restrike)
(Image: MDC Oct 2023)
1808J - NGC PF65
(Stated Smooth Edge / Restrike)
(Image: Goldberg May 2009 / Goldberg May 2008)
1808J - NGC MS64
(Stated Smooth Edge / Restrike)
(Image: Kunker Sep 2024 / NAC Dec 2022)
1808J - PCGS PF64
(Stated Smooth Edge / Restrike)
(Mis-slabbed as non-restrike)
(Image: MDC Jun 2025)
1808J - NGC PF63
(Unknown Edge - Presumed Restrike)
(Image: Unknown 1x)
1808J - NGC MS64
(Unknown Edge - Presumed Restrike)
(Image: Unknown 1x)
1808J - PCGS PF64
(Stated Smooth Edge / Restrike)
(Image: MDC Oct 2023 / Heritage Jan 2025)
1808J - NGC MS63+
(Unknown Edge - Presumed Restrike)
(Image: Unknown 1x)
1808J - PCGS MS62
(Stated Smooth Edge / Restrike)
(Mis-slabbed as non-restrike)
(Image: Gadoury Dec 2014)
1808J - Ungraded FDC
(Stated Smooth Edge / Restrike)
(Image: SIMA Oct 2023)