France 1914 20 francs
This specimen was lot 1807 in Goldberg sale 122 (Los Angeles, June 2021), where it sold for $390. The catalog description[1] noted, "France. 20 Francs, 1914. Third Republic. Rooster. Choice Brilliant Uncirculated." This 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: 6,516,000 + restrikes.
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). Weight 0.1867 ounce.
Catalog reference: Fr-596a; KM-857, F.535/8.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- 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.
- Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2013.
- [1]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, John Lavender, Yifu Che, Jason Villareal and Stephen Harvey, Goldberg Sale 122: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2021.
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