France 1817-L 20 francs

from the Mountain Groan Collection

This issue, from the Bayonne mint, is one of a type struck during the reign of Louis XVIII of France from seven mints. Paris mint issues are reasonably common but the branch mint issues are generally rare. A complete set of this type (1816-24) comprises 34 date and mintmark combinations. Le Franc^[1] estimates a total mintage of 12.7 million for the whole type. All gold 20 francs were officially recalled in 1928 but effectively ceased to circulate during World War I.

Specification: 21 mm diameter, 6.45 grams, 0.900 fine gold, edge lettered DOMINE SALVUM FAC REGEM. Designed by August François Michaud, 1786-1879.

Mintage: 35,862^[1] (priced about 50% higher than the most common date).

Catalog reference: Fr-541, F.519/7, KM 712.5.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• ^[1]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies. Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.

Links to:

• 1814-L 20 francs
• 1817-A ¼ franc
• 1817-B ¼ franc
• 1817-Q ¼ franc
• 1817-T ¼ franc
• 1817-W ¼ franc
• 1817-A ½ franc
• 1817-A franc
• 1817-K franc
• 1817-K 2 francs
• 1817-A 5 francs
• 1817-L 5 francs
• 1817 5 francs, visit of the Duke and Duchess of Berry to the Paris Mint
• 1817-A 20 francs
• 1817-K 20 francs
• 1817-Q 20 francs
• 1817-W 20 francs
• 1817-A 40 francs
• 1824-A 20 francs
• Coins and currency dated 1817