France 1807-U 20 francs
This specimen was lot 2427 in Sincona sale 51 (Zurich, October 2018), where it sold for 2,200 CHF (about US$2,654 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"I. Kaiserreich. Napoleon I. 1804-1815. 20 Francs 1807 U, Turin. Selten. Nur 2557 Exemplare geprägt. Gutes sehr schön. (France, first empire, Napoleon I, 1804-15, twenty francs of 1807, Turin mint. Very rare, Only 2557 pieces struck, Good very fine.)"
This type was struck 1807 only at four mints of which only Paris is common. It was demonetized in 2005 but ceased to circulate in France during World War One.
Specification: 21 mm diameter, 6.45 grams, .900 fine gold, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE. Designed by Jean-Pierre Droz (1746-1823) and Pierre Joseph Tiolier (1763-1819). This specimen 6.42 g.
Recorded Mintage: 2,539[1].
Catalog reference: F.514/3, Gadoury 1023 a, Montenegro 23 (R4), Fr-490, KM A687.
- [1]Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies. Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
- [2]Richter, Jürg, Sincona Auction 51: Gold and Silver Coins and Medals; Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2018.
- Bruce, Colin R., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 5th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2006.
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