Help with French Gold Coin

I received this gold coin as a gift. This is not my typical collecting area (I mostly collect ancients). Would anyone be able to offer a basic catalog description for this coin? Or maybe someone knowledgeable can point me to a good reference work?

Please post your French gold, or any other gold or whatever you feel is related!

 

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1907 French 20 Franc Rooster. Most likely a restrike. Really only worth a bit over melt value but a beautiful coin.
https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide...cs-km-857-1906-1914-cuid-1128486-duid-1265399

Here is my 1907

 

Thank you for the information. Beautiful coin you have. Is yours is an original but mine is a restrike? What characteristics should I be looking for to tell the difference? Thank you so much for your help.

 

I don't think you can tell the difference. At least not that I know of. I'm pretty sure they used the same dies to do the restrikes.

The only ones I know for sure are not restrikes are the ones from before 1907. They also have a different motto around the edge of the coin.

Here is my 1905 that is not a restrike.


I've also got a 1912 but I'm not certain if it is original or a restrike.

 

All of them dated from 1907-1914 were restruck a couple times, and you probably wouldn't be able to find out if this particular one was a restrike or not (have to assume it is). Those from 1898-1906 were not restruck.

The artist is J.C. Chaplain, quite famous for his coins and medals. This is his medal for the 1900 Olympics.

 

Wow, thank you for the information @furryfrog02 and @Dave M! This is very helpful information. I appreciate you posting your own coins for comparison. This is a beautiful design by an incredible artist.

Is there a standard go-to reference for these coins that you would recommend for researching these coins?

 

I use Le Franc for my go-to French catalog, but the Gadoury catalogs are the standard for France.

 

There is a 10F rooster, basically the same design but smaller, that makes a nice pair with the 20F. There is also a modern gold issue (might be available in silver too?) that's 1/2oz of gold and very pretty and expensive

 

My only French gold coin, just a 10 Francs Napoleon III:
18 mm, 22 g;
Strasbourg mint, 1859, Engraver Jean-Jacques Barre
Ref.: KM 784.3 or KM 784.1; Friedberg 505;
Obverse: bare head facing right; NAPOLEON III EMPEREUR / BARRE
Reverse: EMPIRE FRANCAISE denomination within wreath 10 FRANCS 1859
BB

​

 

I do have one pre-rooster french 20 Francs as well...

 

In terms of a general reference, for world coins I find www.numista.com very helpful.

 

1906-1914 by ACoinJob posted Dec 14, 2018 at 12:39 PM

Hopes this helps. My info is as good as 2013 to 2015.

 

Restrikes have LIBERTE EGALITE FRATERNITE as edge lettering, while "originals" have DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE.

Originals : http://www.lefranc.net/monnaie,20-francs-coq-tranche-inscrite-dieu-prot-ge-la-france,534.html

Restrikes : http://www.lefranc.net/monnaie,20-francs-coq-tranche-inscrite-libert--galit-fraternit-,535.html

My 20 francs :


Bonaparte I° Consul - 20 francs or An 12 A



Louis XVIII (1814-1824) - 20 francs or 1820 A



2° republique - 20 francs or 1851 A



2° republique - 20 francs or 1852 A



2° Empire - 20 francs or 1856 A



2° Empire - 20 francs or 1865 A



3° republique - 20 francs or 1877 A



3° republique - 20 francs or 1909

Q

 

Not exactly.... *all* strikes with 1907-1914 dates have "Liberte Egalite Fraternite" on the edge, whether they're a restrike or the original. There are notes on how to distinguish the two, most likely tells are the later strikes are of better quality (though using the same dies), and with a "redder" gold.

 

The France Marianne-Rooster coin appeared on a French World War One poster:


French World War One poster with coin

The poster shows a French gold coin attacking a German soldier.
It was designed by Abel Faivre in 1915 and reads:
"Pour la France VERSEZ VOTRE OR" (For France, pour your gold)
"L'Or Combat Pour La Victoire" (The gold fights for Victory)

And I have one too:


France 20 francs 1912 Marianne-Rooster

A work of art becomes part of another work of art.

 

As for me, the obverse of the Marianne 10 and 20 francs of 1899-1914 can compete with anything St Gaudens came up with. And the rim denticles are made of miniature fleur-de-lis if you look closely. I have one of the 2000 10 Franc proofs in silver of the obverse design. C'est magnifique!

 

Thank you!

 

Thanks, this is very helpful. I'm not entirely sure what the BV for value means under XF, but probably melt value?