France 1813-R 20 francs

Goldberg sale 69, lot 3856

This specimen was lot 4685 in Goldberg sale 69 (Los Angeles, May, 2012), where it sold for $506. The catalog description^[1] noted, "France. 20 Francs, 1813-R (London). Napoleon I. Laureate head. Scratch. Two year type. Fine." Northern Italy being under French occupation, the Rome (not London) mint was set to work striking coins of French design 1812-13. Most of its issues are rare, this one being priced about 50% more than the common date (1811-A) even in low grade. The type was struck 1809-15 in large quantities and common dates are readily available today. Le Franc^[2] warns against specimens with the hair and laurel wreath re-engraved, as this usually comes weak. This specimen was offered again as lot 73088 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2023), where it sold for $1,320. The catalog description noted, "FRANCE. 20 Francs, 1813-R. Rome Mint. Napoleon I. NGC EF-40. Displaying even but not excessive circulation, this nice 20 Francs yields strong beauty and appeal."

Recorded mintage: 5,472^[2].

Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, 21 mm diameter, edge lettered *DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE*, this specimen 6,43 g.

Catalog reference: Fr-519; KM-695.8. F.516/35.

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.
^[2]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
^[1]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, Stephen Harvey and Paul Rynearson, Goldberg sale 69: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Ancient and World Coins, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2012.

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France 1813-R 20 francs

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