France 1815-R 20 francs

from the Mountain Groan Collection

Stack's Bowers 2025 ANA sale, lot 43429

This date was struck in London for the use of Louis XVIII during his exile of the Hundred Days. Production was between July and November 1815. Le Franc notes that the coins circulated briefly in France but were recalled by the end of 1815. The date is not rare but the crude and hurried die work means survivors often appear more worn than they actually are. The second specimen was lot 43429 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Oklahoma City, OK, August 2025), where it sold for $96,000. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"Exceedingly Rare London Mint 20 Francs in Proof. FRANCE. Kingdom (First Restoration). 20 Francs, 1815-R. London Mint. Louis XVIII (in exile). PCGS PROOF-64 Cameo. Standing as a colossal RARITY, this stunning specimen must no doubt be one of the finest of just a few known. The authors of T&T cite just three others--two held publicly in the BnF, and one that was previously in the collection of Dr. Lawrence Adams. The latter of the three, graded NGC PROOF-64, realized a total of $13,200 when it last sold in 2016. Exceedingly enthralling and enticing, with majestically mirrored fields and intensely frosted devices, hence the highly appropriate cameo designation. In addition to its captivating eye appeal, this specimen also serves as a touchstone to a chaotic period in Europe, as this entire emission was struck under the direction of Arthur Wellesley, better known as the Duke of Wellington, in order to pay his troops fighting continentally in the war against Napoleon. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from Kagin's in 1978 for $1,050). Ex: Kagin's/GENA (9/1978) Lot # 1247."

Recorded mintage: 871,581.

Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, 21 mm diameter, edge lettered DOMINE SALVUM FAC REGEM, copied by Thomas Wyon after designs by Pierre Joseph Tiolier.

Catalog reference: Fr-531; KM-706.7; F.518.

Sources:

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.
Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies. Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
^[1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2025 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Richard August Collection and the Richard Margolis Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.

Link to:

France 1815-R 20 francs

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