France 1850-A 20 francs

Eliasberg sale 152

This specimen was lot 152 in the Eliasberg sale, where it sold for $161. The catalog description^[1] noted, "1850 (A) 20 francs. Paris mint. AU-58 (NGC). Liberty Head to right, legends around/denomination in wreath, legends and date around. Lustrous yellow gold, most lustre remains. From B. Max Mehl's sale of the Belden Roach Collection, February 1944, Lot 1402." This type, issued during the French Second Republic, was minted at Paris only during 1849-51. It was superseded by the twenty francs "Louis-Napoleon". There is also a rather scarce gold ten francs struck 1850-51 featuring the same bust of Cérès.

Recorded mintage: 4,050,606.

Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, 21 mm diameter, designed by Louis Merley (1815-83); this specimen: 6.42 grams, 21.10 mm.

Catalog reference: Fr-566, Gadoury-244, KM 762, F.529/3.

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.
• ^[1]Kraljevich, John, John Pack, Elizabeth O. Piper and Frank Van Valen, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr., Collection of World Gold Coins and Medals, Wolfboro, NH: American Numismatic Rarities, 2005.
• 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, 2014.

Link to:

• 1840-A 20 francs Louis Philippe
• 1849-A 20 francs "Genie"
• 1850-A 1 centime
• 1850-A 20 centimes
• 1850-A 50 centimes
• 1850-A franc
• 1850-BB franc
• 1850-K franc
• 1850-A 2 francs
• 1850-K 5 francs
• 1850-A 10 francs
• 1851-A 20 francs
• 1852-A 20 francs Louis Napoleon Bonaparte
• Coins and currency dated 1850
• other specimens in The Eliasberg Collection.