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Contains .1867 Troy oz of actual gold content in BU condition.
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Struck in .900 fine gold by the Paris mint.
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Features ” Napoleon III” on the obverse.
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The reverse has a Laurel wreath with the face value, weight, & purity
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Face value of 20 francs backed by the government of France.
Napoleon III coins are a series of gold coins struck during the reign of Emperor Napoleon III of France. They’re often confused with Napoleon gold coins, which were minted during the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte.
The 1st Napoleon gold coins were introduced in 1803 during the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte. They were issued until his downfall in 1814.
Nearly four decades later, in 1848, Napoleon Bonaparte’s nephew was elected president of the Republic. After staging a coup, he proclaimed himself emperor of France and became known as Napoleon III.
Napoleon III gold coins were minted by the Monnaie de Paris between 1852 and 1870. Despite being replaced in 1871 with the Lucky Gold Angel, they remained extremely popular.
Aside from the coin’s gold value, its historical significance makes the Napoleon III one of the most highly sought-after coins among collectors, coin enthusiasts, and investors alike.
There were two versions of the Napoleon III 20 gold franc; the earlier version, known as the Bare Head, features a portrait of the young emperor with the inscription, ” Napoleon III Empereur” along with the designer’s name, “Barre.”
The reverse features a laurel wreath with the year, face value, and “EMPIRE FRANCAIS” along the edge.
The Laureate head. Was issued from 1861 to 1870. It features a similar portrait of the emperor wearing a wreath. The reverse side of the coin was also redesigned, replacing the wreath with the Empire’s coat of arms.
The featured 1854 Napoleon III is an absolute beauty. Finding these coins in true brilliant uncirculated condition is extremely rare. With that said, this coin is in excellent condition with a nice strike and vivid details.
Keep in mind, just like every coin that’s nearly 200 years old, it has minor nicks and bag marks, as they were transported in large canvas bags.
