20 French Francs – Napoleon III Laureate Head.

The Napoleon 3 Head Laureate 20 Francs gold coin is a masterpiece of French numismatics. Struck between 1861 and 1870, it boasts a design that captures the powerful image of Napoleon III, with his laureate head featured prominently on the obverse side. The reverse of the coin displays the French coat of arms encircled by a wreath, a symbol of victory and triumph. The coin weighs 6.45 grams, with a fineness of 900/1000, making it a highly sought-after piece for both collectors and investors alike. The variations in mintmarks and sizes of letters add to the uniqueness of this iconic coin, making it a true gem in any collection. With its historical significance and impressive design, the Napoleon 3 Head Laureate 20 Francs gold coin is a true testament to the rich legacy of French numismatics.

The 20 Francs Napoleon III laureate coin, more commonly known as the 20 Francs Napoleon III “head laureate,” is a French gold coin weighing 6.45 grams (5.81 grams of fine gold), struck in 85 million copies between the years 1861 and 1870, with exactly 85,344,950 copies produced at that time. They share the same physical characteristics as all French 20 francs gold coins.

Variations affect the value.

For 1861, 1862, and 1868, there are trials marked “E,” which are quite rare and worth a minimum of 3000 euros. For 1862, letter A (Paris mint). The size of the letter A (large or small). For 1864, letter BB (Strasbourg mint). The size of the letter B (small or large). For 1866, letter BB (Strasbourg mint). The edge is striated and not inscribed. For 1867, letter BB (Strasbourg mint). The size of the letter B (small or large). For 1869, letter BB (Strasbourg mint). The size of the letter B (small or large). Price of the Napoleon Head Laureate 20 Francs gold coin.

Volume per year and volume minted of the Napoleon Head Laureate 20 Francs coin.

The 20 Francs Napoleon III: The coin that went from disinterest to rarity.

This coin, called “20 Francs Gold Napoleon Laureate Head”, was struck two centuries ago in compliance with the strict rules established by Bonaparte in 1803. The portrait of the Emperor was made by Pierre-Joseph Tiolier, a protege of Napoleon. This coin is a rarity of the Empire created at the height of the Napoleonic regime and circulated until 1928. Only 10% of these coins are of SUP quality and less than 1% in SPL quality, making this coin increasingly rare. The coin features the right profile of Napoleon III, the laurel-crowned head and the mention “NAPOLEON III EMPEREUR” as well as “EMPIRE FRANÇAIS” with the year at the bottom of the coin on the reverse side. The motto “DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE” is inscribed on the side of the coin.

A gold coin that became interesting.

The current interest in this coin is partly due to a lack of interest in the previous two decades. Since the post-war period, the Napoleon III has been largely ignored, to the point where most of the specimens have been melted down, until 2007-2008. This coin had been so uninteresting to the French that it was the cheapest gold coin and its premium ended up being negative, contributing to its current rarity.

Another reason for this massive melting was that the Napoleon III circulated widely when it was in circulation in France, which means that few specimens remained in good condition, leading to their melting by the state. Only 10% of the Laureate Head Napoleons III are of SUP quality and less than 1% in SPL quality. Thus, this coin, particularly the 20 Francs Napoleon III Laureate Head, has become increasingly rare over time. It is currently difficult to find specimens of this type in good condition.