France 1820-A 20 francs
This specimen was lot 23786 in Heritage sale 3020 (Long Beach, September 2012), where it sold for $558.13. The catalog description[1] noted, "Louis XVIII gold 20 Francs 1820A, MS62 PCGS, full mint luster, light rub on the high points of the bust. Scarce in mint state." This issue, from the Paris mint, is one of a type struck during the reign of Louis XVIII 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[2] estimates a total mintage of 12.7 million for the whole type. All gold twenty francs were officially recalled in 1928 but effectively ceased to circulate in France during World War I. A very rare error exists without the horse's head under the king's bust but the date is otherwise common.
Recorded mintage: 1,316,609.
Specification: 21 mm diameter, 6.45 grams, 0.900 fine gold, edge lettered DOMINE SALVUM FAC REGEM. Designed by August François Michaud, 1786-1879.
Catalog reference: KM 712.1, F.519/19.
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
- [2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
- [1]Tucker, Warren, and Cris Bierrenbach, Heritage Signature Auction 3020: World Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2012.
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