French Gold 20 Francs Marianne / Rooster Coin (1899-1914).

French 20 Franc Roosters in choice Brilliant Uncirculated condition are a top choice for bulk gold buyers. Inexpensive and beautiful, they offer all the benefits of gold bullion plus extra benefits like limited supply, collector demand, complete financial privacy, and extra premium potential because of scarcity.

Minted from 1899 to 1914, these traditional coins feature the image of Liberty on the obverse and the Gallic Rooster, or Coq Gaulois, one of the national symbols of France since the Middle Ages, on the reverse.

The French 20 Franc Rooster is one of the most affordable, and therefore popular, of all our classic European gold coins.

Key Benefits

• • Better than bullion. All the benefits of gold bullion plus extra benefits like limited supply, collector demand, complete financial privacy, and extra premium potential because of scarcity.
• • True scarcity. Their true scarcity can mean higher premiums during periods of peak demand.
• • Private, liquid, secure. Unlike most forms of gold bullion, they are exempt from broker reporting requirements.

20 Francs French Rooster Coin.

Low prices, great value.

Roosters are among the least expensive world gold coins, trading at a modest premium over modern bullion coins. We recommend them over bullion because of their low prices, relative scarcity, added security. Their true scarcity can mean higher premiums during periods of peak demand.

Minted from 1901 until the outbreak of World War I in 1914, French Roosters were genuine legal tender gold coins of France and guaranteed by the French government. However, the original mintage of these coins was fairly limited because of the melting of millions of golds 20 Francs during the 1930s after private ownership of gold was outlawed in the United States. Unlike most forms of gold bullion, they are exempt from broker reporting requirements. In our opinion, they’re better than bullion for bulk gold buyers.

The original production run of French 20 Franc Rooster gold coins occurred between 1898 and 1914, with surviving coins from the initial year considered especially rare. Coins with dates from 1907-1914 were officially re-struck at the Paris Mint from 1951-1960.

The front of the French 20 Franc Rooster features the head of the Third Republic surrounded by the words REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE. The reverse depicts a proud, fully plumed rooster along with the denomination (20 Fcs), the date, and the words LIBERTE EGALITE FRATERNITE. This phrase, which translates to Freedom, Equality, Fraternity, was popularized during the French Revolution against Louis XVI.

Collecting The French Rooster Gold Coin

A favorite collectible in all parts of the world, the French Rooster 20 franc gold coin is quite easy to find. It is low priced enough for most collectors and those in brilliant uncirculated (BU) condition can be collected for their beauty or the bullion value.

The French Rooster gold coin was historically first minted in 1901, but some were released as early as 1899. The coins were minted every year after 1901 up to the First World War in 1914. The traditional coins feature the Gallic Rooster, which has been symbolic of France since at least the Middle Ages. During the French Revolution, the rooster was the symbol of the revolutionary army. For a short time, the rooster was the national emblem of France, beginning in the 1830′s, but Napoleon III changed that rather quickly. Even today, the rooster stands for independence and liberty, and it is often used for sports teams and other insignias.

This coin is 90% gold, between 20 and 22 carat, with a weight of.1867oz.

Because the coin is considered scarce and a collectible, it is exempt from confiscation. Most modern gold bullion coins must be reported, but the French Rooster is completely private. On the face side of the coin is the Republic Lady with the words “Republique Franaise” encircling her head. The Gallic Rooster is on the reverse side with the words “Liberty, Equality, and Brotherhood” in French.

In France, any serious coin collector seeks out the Rooster early in the coin collecting process. Many start with this gold coin because of its “affordability” as a rare piece. International coin collectors generally use the Rooster as the cornerstone of their purchases. A favorite collectible in all parts of the world, the French Rooster 20 franc gold coin is quite easy to find. It is low priced enough for most collectors and those in brilliant uncirculated (BU) condition can be collected for their beauty or the bullion value. They trade for near their gold value, which makes them keepers.Other French coins are sought by collectors, some of which are much rarer than the Rooster. French coins are valued for their great artwork, which is unsurpassed by coins from any other part of the world.

As of November 2010, prices for the French Rooster start at under $ 200 for circulated coins to over $ 500 for the brilliant uncirculated. In 2024, price went up to $440 on Apmex. There does not seem to be any shortage in supply of the coin at this time or in the near future. As more collectors take the opportunity to put them into collections, the value may increase, but not dramatically in the eyes of coin specialists. For the long term collector, the French Rooster is a good investment because it will not lose value any more than the fluctuation in the price of precious metals.