France 2005 20 euro Fr-788

Heritage sale 3076, part of lot 31479

This specimen was part of lot 31479 in Heritage sale 3076 (Long Beach, CA, September 2019), which sold for $810. The catalog description^[1] noted, "France. Republic 2-Piece Uncertified gold & silver "Frédéric Chopin" Euro Proof Set 2005, 1) 1-1/2 Euros; 2) 20 Euros. Each coin is sold encapsulated in its original blue case of issue with COA included. The silver 1-1/2 Euros is #643/3,000, the gold 20 Euros #19/500." The treaty which established the euro in 1999 gave specifications for the one cent thru two euro coins which are legal tender throughout the European Union. Higher denominations are not legal tender and each country is free to issue commemoratives as it sees fit, a right the Paris mint has ruthlessly exploited. This one honors Polish composer Frédéric Chopin (1810-49) and was accompanied by a silver 1½ euro (KM 2027).

Recorded mintage: 500.

Specification: 17 g, .920 fine gold, 31 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM 2028, Fr-788, Gad-165.

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, 2001-Date, 13th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2018.
• ^[1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3076, featuring the Allen Moretti Swiss Collection and the James Mossman Collection of Canadian Coinage, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.

Link to:

• 2004 100 euro, gold Europa
• 2004 100 euro, gold Napoleon
• 2005 1½ euro, "Frédéric Chopin"
• 2005 10 euro, fiftieth anniversary of the European flag
• Netherlands 2005 10 euro, 60th anniversary of liberation
• 2006 100 euro, bicentennial of the birth of Benjamin Franklin
• 2007 20 euro, Asterix and Kleopatra
• Coins and currency dated 2005
• return to Euro coinage of France (1999 to date)