View source for France 1856-A 20 francs

[[Image:France S43-3350.jpg|550px|thumb|Sincona sale 43, lot 3350]]

This specimen was lot 3350 in Sincona sale 43 (Zurich, October 2017), where it sold for 380 CHF (about US$454 including buyer's fees). The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, <blockquote>"''FRANCE, II. Kaiserreich. Napoleon III. 1852-1870 20 Francs 1856 A. Paris. Vorzüglich-FDC.'' ([[France]], second empire, Napoleon III, 1852-70, twenty francs of 1856, Paris mint. Extremely fine-uncirculated.)"</blockquote> This "bare head" type of Napoleon III was struck 1853-60 and 18 dates comprise the set. 146,000,000 were struck for the type, making it the most common gold coin of French history with the possible exception of the "rooster" (struck 1898-1914 and repeatedly restruck since). Typical XF-AU specimens trade for their bullion value. This issue has been counterfeited extensively but as most of the fakes contain the correct amount of gold, they trade for the same price as the genuine.

''Recorded mintage:'' 17,284,062.

''Specification:'' 21 mm diameter, 6.45 grams, 0.900 fine gold, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE; this specimen: 6.45 g. 

''Catalog reference:'' Gadoury 1061. Schl. 281. Fr-573, F.531/9, KM 781.1. 

''[[Bibliography|Source:]]''
* 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, 1801-1900, 9th ed.'', Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
* <sup>[1]</sup>Richter, Jürg, ''Sincona sale 43, Gold and Silver Coins and Medals,'' Zurich: Sincona AG, 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, 2013.

''Link to:''
* [[France 1855-A 20 francs|1855-A 20 francs]]
* [[France 1856-BB centime|1856-BB centime]]
* [[France 1856-K centime|1856-K centime]]
* [[France 1856-W centime|1856-W centime]]* [[France 1856-B 2 centimes|1856-B 2 centimes]]
* [[France 1856-K 2 centimes]]
* [[France 1856-BB 5 centimes]]
* [[France 1856-MA 5 centimes|1856-MA 5 centimes]]
* [[France 1856-A 20 centimes]]
* [[France 1856-BB 20 centimes|1856-BB 20 centimes]]
* [[France 1856-A 50 centimes]]
* [[France 1856-D 50 centimes]]
* [[France 1856-A franc]]
* [[France 1856-D franc]]
* [[France 1856-A 2 francs]]
* [[France 1856-BB 2 francs]]
* [[France 1856-D 2 francs]]
* [[France 1856-A 5 francs|1856-A silver 5 francs]]
* [[France 1856-A 5 francs d'or|1856-A gold 5 francs]]
* [[France 1856-D 5 francs|1856-D silver 5 francs]]
* [[France 1856-A 10 francs]]
* [[France 1856-BB 20 francs|1856-BB 20 francs]]
* [[France 1856-A 50 francs]]
* [[France 1857-A 20 francs|1857-A 20 francs]]
* [[France 1864-A 20 francs|1864-A 20 francs "laureate head"]]
* [[Coins and currency dated 1856]]

[[Category:Gold coins of France]][[Category:Selections from Sincona sale 41, 42, 43, 44, 45]]