ObverseImage: Wikimedia Commons · Pierre-Joseph Tiolier · CC BY-SA 2.5
20 Francs Gold
France
1814–1914
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$895.10
Based on Gold spot price ($4,795.98/oz) · 90.0% purity · 6.45g
Updated 6:41 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | France |
| Years Minted | 1814–1914 |
| Composition | 90% gold, 10% copper |
| Weight | 6.45 g |
| Diameter | 21 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Reeded |
Design
Obverse
Features the portrait of the reigning French monarch, such as Louis XVIII during the Restoration period.
Reverse
Depicts the French coat of arms, along with the denomination and the year of issue.
History & Notable Facts
The 20 Francs gold coin maintained a precise weight of 6.45 grams of .900 fine gold throughout its production, making it a reliable standard in global trade for a century.
This consistency stemmed from the Latin Monetary Union, which France joined in 1865, allowing these coins to circulate freely across borders. Earlier versions, struck during the Restoration under Louis XVIII, featured his portrait on the obverse and the French coat of arms on the reverse. Designs evolved with each regime, from the Bourbons to the Third Republic, yet the coin's specifications rarely wavered.
We don't know the exact mintage figures for every year; records from the Paris Mint were spotty before the 1850s. What we do have shows peaks during economic booms, like the 1850s gold rushes.
Some variants were struck on planchets from recycled foreign coins, a practical move in times of shortage.
As for myths, I've heard enough about these being "lucky charms." They're just coins.
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