France 1839-A 20 francs
This specimen was lot 982 in Jean Elsen sale 122 (Brussels, September 2014), where it sold for €160 (about US$245 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Louis-Philippe (1830-1848), AV 20 francs, 1839 A, Paris. Petits coups. Très Beau à Superbe. (kingdom of France, Louis Philippe (1830-48), gold twenty francs of 1839, Paris mint. Small nicks, very fine to extremely fine.)"
This type, struck 1832-48, was recalled in 1928 and demonetized in 2005 but ceased to circulate in France during World War One. It superseded the Tiolier head used 1830-31 (F.524 and F.525). Branch mint issues include Rouen (mintmark "B"), Lille (mintmark "W") and Bayonne (mintmark "L"). Records show 773,000 forty franc pieces were minted during the reign, compared to 9.13 million twenty franc pieces and 335 million silver five franc pieces. This date is the first really common date.
Recorded mintage: 1,010,512.
Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, 21 mm diameter, edge lettered DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE, designed by Joseph François Domard (1792-1858).
Catalog reference: Gad-1031; Fr-560, F.527/14, KM 750.1.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- 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.
- 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.
- [1]Philippe Elsen et al., Vente Publique 122: Collection de monnaies chinoises, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S. A., 2014.
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