France 1979 20 centimes

Sincona sale 11, lot 1485

This specimen was lot 1485 in Sincona sale 11 (Zürich, May 2013), where it sold for 850 CHF (about US$1,052 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANKREICH 5. Republik, 1959-. 20 Centimes 1979. GOLD. Selten, nur 300 Exemplare geprägt. FDC aus Polierter Platte. (France, fifth republic (since 1959), gold twenty centimes of 1979. Rare, proof.)"

The regular issue twenty centimes was minted 1962-2001 and is not rare tho some dates were struck only for sale to collectors. The specimen shown is an off-metal strike in gold for presentation.

Recorded mintage: 70,040,511^[2] regular issue plus 600 in silver and 300 in gold.

Specification: 4 g, aluminum bronze, 23.5 mm diameter, plain edge (regular issue). This specimen 18.49 g.

Catalog reference: F.156/19, KM 930 (aluminum bronze), KM P633 (gold), Gadoury 332P.

Source:

• Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• ^[2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
• ^[1]Numismatic Coins, Medals & Banknotes, Auction 11, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2013.

Link to:

• 1978 20 20 centimes
• 1979 5 centimes
• France 1979 10 centimes KM P630
• 1979 ½ franc
• 1979 franc
• 1979 2 francs, struck in gold
• 1979 5 francs, struck in gold
• 1979 10 francs
• 1979 50 francs
• 1980 20 20 centimes
• Coins and currency dated 1979