France 1809-H 20 francs

Jean Elsen sale 160, lot 1748

This specimen was lot 1748 in Jean Elsen sale 160 (Brussels, November 2024), where it sold for €6,000 (about US$7,596 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Napoléon Ier (1804-1814), AV 20 francs, 1809 H, La Rochelle. Seulement 501 p. frappées. Extrêmement rare. Petits coups sur la tranche. Très Beau. (empire of France, Napoleon I, 1804-14, gold twenty francs of 1809, La Rochelle mint, only 501 pieces struck. Extremely rare, minor rim nicks, very fine.)"

The French empire produced large quantities of gold coins, made from metal looted from countries Napoleon conquered. However, gold coins of the French branch mints are very scarce as a class and have long been underpriced, mostly because the few survivors are in poor condition. This is the final twenty francs for Napoleon, struck 1809-14 with a laureate head and "EMPIRE FRANCAIS" on the reverse. It is the most plentiful type but this issue is rare.

Recorded mintage: 495^[2].

Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, 21 mm diameter, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE, designed by Pierre-Joseph Tiolier and Jean-Pierre Droz.

Catalog reference: F.516/2, KM 695.3, Gad-1025; Fr-517.

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.
Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
^[1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 160, Collection de deniers liegeois et Collection de monnaies d'or francaises, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2024.
^[2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies. Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.

Link to:

France 1809-H 20 francs

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