Known to many as the Euro before the Euro, the 20 Francs gold coin was a popular denomination from France that served as the impetus for the formation of the Latin Monetary Union on the European continent. One of the most common figures to feature on the coins of the 20 Francs Gold denomination was Napoleon III, the one-time President of France and Emperor of the French during the 2^nd French Empire. Right now, certified 20 Francs France Gold Coins from his reign are available to you for purchase online.

Highlights:

• Arrives with a protective NGC plastic slab!
• Offers a special France-themed label in the slab!
• Comes with dates ranging from 1861 to 1869!
• Certified grades include Mint State 60 to Mint State 62!
• Contains .1867 Troy oz of actual gold content.
• Bears a face value of 20 Francs.
• The obverse depicts Napoleon III.
• On the reverse is the coat of arms of the French Empire.
• Please bear in mind that date marks and grades are not guaranteed in advance, and that you may get matching coins when you buy several.

With your purchase of a 20 Francs France Gold Coin in this Provident Metals listing, you will receive coins protected in NGC slabs with grades ranging from Mint State 60 to Mint State 62. Coins in this grade range retain lustrous appeal with an attractive, sharp level of detail for specimens that are more than 150 years old. Critically, the coins lack wear patterns that would result from circulation.

Please bear in mind that Provident Metals offers these coins at random. This means both the dates, ranging from 1861 to 1869, and the grades will be determined at random after your payment clears. We cannot promise a date or grade in advance and will select at random from available inventory. If you buy several, you may end up with matching specimens.

Obverse

Designed by Jean Jacques Barre, the obverse of the 20 Francs France Gold Coin features a right-profile portrait of Napoleon III. In this design, he wears a laurel wreath around his head and is accompanied by engravings of NAPOLEON III, EMPEREUR, and BARRE.

Reverse

Also designed by Barre, on the reverse is an image of the coat of arms of the French Empire. This detailed design features a shield with an eagle and is topped by an Imperial Crown. The design field comes with inscriptions of EMPIRE FRANCAIS, 20 FR, and the date mark.

History

The design present on all of the 1861 to 1869 coins in this listing is the third version of the 20 Franc Gold Coin from the French Mint. Jean Jacques Barre created all three versions of the coin during Napoleon IIIs reign. The first two versions had the same bust of Napoleon III on the obverse, with one reading Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte during his presidential era, while the second featured the same inscriptions found on these coins from the 2^nd French Empire. Likewise, the reverse was predominantly the same, with a wreath around the date and denomination. The first version read Republique Francais while the second featured the same inscription as these coins.

Ordering

If you have questions, Provident Metals is here to help. Please call us at 800-313-3315, chat with us live online, or simply send us an email.