France 1812-W 20 francs
This specimen was lot 71269 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2025), where it sold for $1,320. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. Empire. 20 Francs, 1812-W. Lille Mint. Napoleon I. PCGS AU-58. Olive-yellow in hue and with some pleasing brilliance remaining, this near-Mint survivor stands as a great example of the type. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Kagin's in 1987 for $264). Ex: Kagin's 344 (8/1987) Lot # 2231." The twenty francs of Napoleon are divided into seven types, of which this is the final and most numerous. It was demonetized in 2005 but ceased to circulate in France during World War One. A complete set of this type comprises 45 date and mintmark combinations, most scarce to rare. The entire production run, 1809-15, totaled about 14.3 million pieces, of which 87% were struck at Paris.
Recorded mintage: 345,524[2], a fairly common date.
Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, 21 mm diameter, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE. Designed by Pierre Joseph Tiolier, 1763-1819.
Catalog reference: F.516/29, Fr-512; KM-695.10; Gad-1025.
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, September 2025 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, including Selections from the Richard Margolis Collection and Selections from the L.E. Bruun Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
Link to:
- 1811-W 2 francs
- 1811-W 5 francs
- 1811-W 20 francs
- 1812-A ½ franc
- 1812-B ½ franc
- 1812-MA ½ franc
- 1812-T ½ franc
- 1812-flag ½ franc
- 1812-W demi-franc
- 1812-A franc
- 1812-B franc
- 1812-BB franc
- 1812-D franc
- 1812-I franc
- 1812-R franc
- 1812-W franc
- 1812-flag franc
- 1812-A 2 francs
- 1812-B 2 francs
- 1812-BB 2 francs
- 1812-H 2 francs
- 1812-I 2 francs
- 1812-L 2 francs
- 1812-MA 2 francs
- 1812-W 2 francs
- 1812-flag 2 francs
- 1812-A 5 francs
- 1812-B 5 francs
- 1812-BB 5 francs
- 1812-D 5 francs
- 1812-H 5 francs
- 1812-I 5 francs
- 1812-K 5 francs
- 1812-L 5 francs
- 1812-M 5 francs
- 1812-MA 5 francs
- 1812-Q 5 francs
- 1812-R 5 francs
- 1812-T 5 francs
- 1812-U 5 francs
- 1812-W 5 francs
- 1812-flag 5 francs
- 1812-A 20 francs
- 1812-K 20 francs
- 1812-L 20 francs
- 1812-M 20 francs
- 1812-Q 20 francs
- 1812-R 20 francs
- 1812-U 20 francs
- 1812-A 40 francs
- 1812-W 40 francs
- 1813-W 20 francs
- Coins and currency dated 1812