France 1889-A 20 francs
The first specimen was lot 883 in UBS sale 84 (Basel, January 2010). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANKREICH Troisième Republique, 1871-1940. 20 Francs 1889. Sehr selten. Nur 100 Exemplare geprägt. NGC Proof 65 CAMEO. Perfekte polierte Platte" (France, Third Republic, 1871-1940, 20 francs of 1889. Very rare, only 100 examples struck, NGC proof-65 Cameo, perfect polished planchet).
This specimen is a rare proof specimen of a series struck 1871-98. See also the rare five and ten francs d'or struck that year. This type revives the type struck 1848-49 during the Second Republic. All 86 million were struck at the Paris mint. Most dates are readily available; only the 1888-A is rare. This type is commonly called an "angel" by American dealers but the French name "Génie" is more accurate, as the figure is the Genius of France inscribing the Constitution. It was officially withdrawn from circulation in 1928 and demonetized in 2005 but ceased to circulate after World War One.
Recorded mintage: 873,000 plus 100 proofs.
Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, 21 mm diameter, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE, revival of a design by Augustin Dupré (1748-1833).
Catalog reference: Gad-1063, Fr-592, F.533/13, KM 825.
- 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.
- [1]UBS Gold & Numismatics, Auction 84: Gold and Silver Coins, Basel, 2009.
- 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.
- Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
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