France 1902 20 francs
This specimen was lot 73137 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2023), where it sold for $360. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. 20 Francs, 1902. Paris Mint. NGC AU-58. Nearly fully lustrous and displaying only the lightest touches of wear, this bright and wholesome piece is certain to command much attention." This type was struck in Paris 1899-1906; later issues had the edge lettered LIBERTE + EGALITE + FRATERNITE. American coin dealers refer to these coins as "roosters." This type does not bear a mintmark.
Recorded mintage: 2,393,707.
Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, 21 mm diameter, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE, designed by Jules-Clément Chaplain (1839-1909).
Catalog reference: F.534/7, Fr-596; KM-847.
- 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.
- Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, February 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, featuring the David Sterling Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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