Numismatic

1861-70 France Au 20 Fr Napoleon III Laureate Avg Circ (Scruffy)

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During the decade leading up to 1870, France struck a distinctive series of gold 20 Franc coins featuring the laureate portrait of Emperor Napoleon III. These pieces, minted between 1861 and 1870, represent the final decade of his imperial rule, which began in 1852 and concluded in 1870. The obverse displays the emperor's profile, a design crafted by Jean Jacques Barre, while the reverse is dedicated to the grand coat of arms of the French Empire. Each coin is composed of 90 percent pure gold, containing 0.1867 troy ounces of the precious metal. Struck at various French mints, these pieces carry the reverse inscription 'Empire Francais' alongside the 20 Francs denomination. Surviving examples from this era often show signs of their long journey through circulation, bearing the unique character of cleaned, damaged, or scruffy surfaces that tell a story of active use in nineteenth-century commerce.