France 1859-BB 20 francs

Stack's Bowers June 2022 Collector's Choice sale, lot 70747

This specimen was lot 70747 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2022), where it sold for $432. The catalog description^[1] noted, "FRANCE. 20 Francs, 1859-BB. Strasbourg Mint. Napoleon III. NGC MS-62. A rather enchanting and glistening nearly-choice example of the type, and one that would serve as an excellent representative of the type." This type is one of the most common gold coins in existence (146 million minted 1853-60) yet it is very difficult to assemble a set in choice condition.

Recorded mintage: 5,808,250^[2], a better date in high grade.

Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, 21 mm diameter, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE, designed by Jacques-Jean Barre (1793-1855).

Catalog reference: F.531/16, Fr-573; KM 781.2; Gad-1061.

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.
• ^[2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• ^[1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The June 2022 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancients & World Coins - Featuring Selections from the Kings Norton Mint Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.

Link to:

• 1858-BB 20 francs
• 1859-A 20 centimes
• 1859-A 50 centimes
• 1859-A franc
• 1859-BB franc
• 1859-A 2 francs
• 1859-A silver 5 francs
• 1859-A gold 5 francs
• 1859-BB gold 5 francs
• 1859-A 10 francs
• 1859-BB 10 francs
• 1859-A 20 francs
• 1859-A 50 francs
• 1859-BB 50 francs
• 1859-A 100 francs
• 1859-BB 100 francs
• 1860-A 20 francs
• 1860-BB 20 francs
• Coins and currency dated 1859