Coin of 20 francs of the 12th year of the Republic (AN 12)

Original gold coin with a face value of 20 francs (classic Napoleondor), minted on Paris Mint in the 12th year of the French republican calendar. This copy belongs to the first historical type of Napoleondors, produced during the Consulate of Napoleon Bonaparte before his official coronation and the proclamation of France as an Empire.

900 gold, stamped. Weight: 6.45 g. The diameter is 21 mm. Mint: Paris (letter "A") General Engraver: Pierre-Joseph Tiolier

Obverse: Profile image of the First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte with his head uncovered (without a laurel wreath), facing left. There is a circular legend along the edge: BONAPARTE PREMIER CONSUL. The italicized signature of the general engraver, Tiolier, is located under the base of the neck. Reverse: The face value of 20 FRANCS is indicated in the center in two lines, framed by a laurel wreath tied with a ribbon at the bottom. There is a circular inscription REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE along the edge. The year of minting is indicated at the bottom — AN 12. To the left of the year is the mint director's badge (rooster), to the right is the letter A (Paris). Edge: Indented inscription in French * DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE (God protects France). An additional macro photograph of the rib clearly shows a fragment of the motto: the letters E (from the word DIEU) and the word PROTEGE. Guarantee of authenticity. Rare.

Very good collector's condition (VF / Very Fine). The coin has a noble, even golden hue with a natural age-old patina. There is a uniform delicate wear of the most prominent elements of the hairstyle relief on the obverse and the details of the laurel leaves on the reverse. The edges of the coin are clean, with standard micro-scratches from short-term circulation. The circular inscriptions, face value and mintmarks are perfectly readable. The edging is smooth, the edge inscription is deep, without interference, completely stamped along the entire perimeter of the rib.

The 20-franc coins of the 12th year of the republic became the basis of the new monetary system introduced by Napoleon ("franc germinal"). It was this type of gold coin that set the standards that later formed the basis of the Latin Monetary Union. This lot is of great interest to collectors of military history and European numismatics from the era of the Napoleonic Wars.