France 1912 20 francs
This specimen was lot 3650 in Goldberg sale 70 (Los Angeles, September 2012), where it sold for $345. The catalog description[1] noted, "France. 20 Francs, 1912. Third Republic. Head of the Republic. Reverse: Rooster. Choice Brilliant Uncirculated." The type was struck in Paris 1906-1914; earlier issues had the edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE. The mintage given below does not reflect the restrikes made in the 1920's and 1950's which have rendered this handsome coin very common. American coin dealers refer to these coins as "roosters."
Recorded mintage: 10,332,000.
Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, .186 troy oz AGW, 22 mm diameter, edge lettered LIBERTE EGALITE FRATERNITE, designed by Jules-Clément Chaplain (1839-1909).
Catalog reference: Fr-596a; KM 857, F.535/6.
- 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, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Ira and Larry Goldberg, Goldberg sale 70: The Pre-Long Beach Auction, Los Angeles, CA: Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, 2012.
- 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.
Link to: