France 1812-R 20 francs

Heritage sale 3024, lot 23843

This specimen was lot 23843 in Heritage sale 3024 (Chicago, April 2013), where it sold for $1,175. The catalog description^[2] noted, "Napoleon gold 20 Francs 1812-Crowned R, AU50 PCGS, lightly toned and original, traces of luster in the legends. Very scarce and popular issue struck at Rome." Northern Italy being under French occupation, the Rome (not London) mint was set to work striking coins of French design 1812-13. Most of its issues are rare. This type was struck 1809-14 with 14.2 million from all mints, making it the most common French gold coin prior to the 1850's. After the year 14, the revolutionary calendar was dropped in favor of the traditional Gregorian calendar. The twenty francs of Napoleon are divided into seven types, of which this is the last. It was demonetized in 2005 but ceased to circulate during World War One. A complete set of this type comprises 45 date and mintmark combinations.

Specification: 21 mm diameter, 6.45 grams, 0.900 fine gold, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE. Designed by Jean-Pierre Droz (1746-1823) and Pierre Joseph Tiolier (1763-1819).

Recorded Mintage: 13,645^[1].

Catalog reference: F.516/27, KM 695.8.

Source:

Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
^[1]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
^[2]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3024, featuring the Kairos and Elizabeth McPhall Charters Collections, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.

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France 1812-R 20 francs

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