Napoleon (coin)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Napoleon is the colloquial term for a former French gold coin. The coins were minted (at various times) in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 40, 50 and 100francs. This article will focus on the 20 franc coins issued during the reign of Napoleon, which are 21 mm in diameter, weigh 6.45 grams (gross weight) and, at 90% pure, contain .1867 troy ounces or 5.801 grams of pure gold. The coin was issued during the reign of Napoleon I and features his portrait on the obverse. The denomination continued in use through the 19th century and later French gold coins in the same denomination were generally referred to as "Napoleons". Earlier French gold coins are referred to as Louis (the name of eighteen French Kings or écu an old French word for shield.

A Napoleon from the latter part of 1803 a/k/a An. 12. N.B. the French Revolutionary calendar began in September with the Revolution and therefore each Revolutionary year falls into two Gregorian calendar years

.

[edit] Overview

The Napoleon is the colloquial term for a former French gold coin. The coins were originally minted in two denominations, 20 and 40 francs for Napoleon Bonaparte. The 20 franc coins are 21 mm in diameter (about the size of a U.S. five cent piece), weigh 6.45 grams (gross weight) and; at 90% pure, contain .1845 ounces or 5.801 grams of pure gold. The 40 franc coins are 26 mm in diameter, weigh 12.90 grams (gross weight) and; are 90% pure gold. The coins were issued during the reign of Napoleon I and features his portrait, sometimes bare headed and other times wearing a laurel wreath (the ancient Roman symbol of supreme authority) and, depending upon the political status of France, the words on the front: either Napoléon Bonaparte - Premier Consul (First Consul) or Napoléon Empereur (emperor). On the back: the legends read either "RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE" (the French Republic) or after 1807, "EMPIRE FRANÇAIS" (the French Empire). There was even a 20 Lire Napoleon minted under the auspices of the Kingdom of Italy, a country annexed by Napoleon I of France. The First Empire is an enthralling period for collectors.

[edit] A curious incongruity?

It is sometimes questioned how a nation as sophisticated as France, controlled by a great leader such as Napoleon could have overlooked the differences between a republic and empire and in so doing indicate on their coinage that their republic was ruled by an emperor. It further appears that this oversight was corrected with the coinage of 1807. However, this is incorrect. As was hinted to about the laurel wreath being a symbol borrowed from Roman history, so too was Napoleon's understanding of an Emperor.^[1] Caesar was the Emperor of the Roman Republic and emperor was understood in ancient times as the "chief administrator". Napoleon wished to not to be called “Grand Elector,” which savored of Prussia, but “First Consul,” which carried the aroma of ancient Rome. ^[2] So Napoleon remained deft to the appeals for Communal self-rule. Going back to the Roman Consular system, or to the intendant of the late Bourbons, he preferred to appoint - or to have the Interior Ministry appoint - to each département (county) a ruling prefect, to each arrondissement (ward) a sub-prefect, and to each commune (parish) a mayor; each appointee to be responsible to his superior, and ultimately to the central government. ^[3] The civil service- the total administrative body - in Napoleonic France was the least democratic and most efficient known in history, with the possible exception of ancient Rome. ^[4] When viewed in this context, there is no incongruity with Napoléon Empereur and "RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE."

[edit] Dates of usage of the "Napoléon" coins

The coin continued in use through the 19th century and later French gold coins in the same denomination were generally referred to a "Napoleons". In particular the coins of Napoleon I, were minted not only at the several French mints but also at the mints in the Italian territories: Genoa, Turino (1803 to 1813), Rome (1812 to 1813) and; the Netherlands: Utrecht (1812 to 1813), and; in the Swiss territories: Geneva. During the French occupation of these places, although the mints came under French administration and minted French Empire coins, it was otherwise business as usual as the incumbent mint masters remained in their posts, for example: Sarwaas in Utrecht, Paroletti in Turin and Mazzio in Rome.^[5]

[edit] French coins minted in London?

Some coins of King Louis 18 were minted in London in 1815. The English were supportive of the return of the French king to power after he was deposed by Napoleon in 1815, during the famous Hundred Days.^[6]

[edit] First authorized by the Monetary Ordinance of March 28, 1803^[8]

Napoleon left an impression on his era with his qualities as a General and a statesman. A worthy successor to Julius Caesar and Charlemagne, Napoleon tried to unify Europe and almost succeeded, especially in terms of the coinage.^[9] The Napoleon coin was first authorized by a Monetary Ordinance of March 28, 1803 by the Premier Consul (First Consul) Napoleon Bonaparte. The 20 franc gold pieces which he authorized in 1803, became the model of all the coins of the Latin Union which circulated in Europe until 1914. The French coin carries the effigy, in profile, Napoleon, who would later become the French Emperor. The coins had the same value as the Louis, which bears the likeness of the pre-French Revolution King Louis XIV. For Napoleon, there were ostensibly seven types or varieties of the coins minted. In general the varieties differed in terms of obverse legend, reverse legends, portraiture, and calendaring system. For each variety, there was a new enabling statute or executive decree: March 28, 1803; April 7, 1803; June 26, 1804; September 8, 1805; February 11, 1807; August 5, 1807; and October 22, 1808. By extension, the term ‘‘Napoleon’’ is applied today to all the various types of 20 franc French gold pieces.

[edit] "The Euro before the 'Euro'"

Although the portraits and legends changed with the political changes in France, the denomination remained in usage until the First World War under what was known as the Latin Monetary Union, the "Euro before the Euro", so-to-speak. Switzerland had Swiss 20 franc pieces, Spain had 20 peseta coins, Italy had 20 lira pieces, Belgium had 20 Belgian franc coins, and Greece had 20 drachmas coins all of which circulated and were accepted throughout Europe. Only, for political reasons did the English and the German Empires refused to follow this direction. Attempts were even taken to explore the unification of the European currency with the American dollar, which explains the extremely rare U.S. pattern coins carrying $4 marking on the face and 25 franc markings on the reverse.

Obverse of the Bonaparte Premier Consul struck in 1803 at Paris, the first year of issue. Note the youthful portrait of Napoleon and compare to later issues reflecting contemporaneous appearances of the Emperor. Engravers: Jean-Pierre Droz (1746-1823) & Pierre-Joseph Tiolier (1763-1819)

Reverse of the same coin 1803 Paris (AN. 11 indicates the 11th year after the French Revolution or the latter part of 1803). A coin not often seen, 58,262 were minted. The "A" denotes the Paris mint and the rooster denotes the mint master Charles-Pierre de l'Espine (1797-1821)

[edit] Distinguishing marks of the mint masters

The coins bear the signature of the master engraver responsible for the engraving of the coins' dies. In later times the engraver used a symbol to identify himself. The coins also bear the mark (a symbol, letter, or monogram) denoting the particular French (or French controlled) mint which struck the coin. These mint marks often signal the rarity of the issue, for example the Napoleon 20 franc gold coin struck in 1809 at Paris and marked with the letter "A" had an issue of 687,508 coins; in the same year at the mint at Bordeaux, marked with the letter "K" only 2,534 coins were struck; while the mint at Lille, marked with a "W" struck 16,911 coins. Over the years there were some twenty-three French mints not only in France but also in annexed or occupied countries, including Italy, Switzerland and the Netherlands. During the occupation of France by Germany in World War II, some French coins were made at the United States Mint in Philadelphia.

[edit] List of 20 franc French coin issues

All issues are 90% fine gold, have a nominal net weight of 6.45 grams and, have a diameter of 21 mm.^[10]

^[11]

A 20 franc piece from 1857; Portrait of Napoleon III

A 20 franc piece from 1907, Cérès, third République

[edit] References

1. ^ Napoleonic Titles and Heraldry
2. ^ Durant, W., Durant, A., The Age of Napoleon, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1975, at page 162.
3. ^ Durant, W., Durant, A., The Age of Napoleon, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1975, at page 163.
4. ^ Durant, W., Durant, A., The Age of Napoleon, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1975, at page 164.
5. ^ Diot, Prieur, Schmitt and Surde, LE FRANC III, les monnaies Françaises 1795-1999, Paris 1999
6. ^ Diot, Prieur, Schmitt and Surde, LE FRANC III, les monnaies Françaises 1795-1999, Paris 1999
7. ^ Diot, Prieur, Schmitt and Surde, LE FRANC III, les monnaies Françaises 1795-1999, Paris 1999
8. ^ Les changements de monnaies de Charlemagne à nos jours
9. ^ The Coins of Napoleon
10. ^ Diot, Prieur, Schmitt and Surde, LE FRANC III, les monnaies Françaises 1795-1999, Paris 1999
11. ^ Diot, Prieur, Schmitt and Surde, LE FRANC III, les monnaies Françaises 1795-1999, Paris 1999

[edit] See also

• Napoléonides

[edit] External links

• Photos of all 20 francs French gold coins
• A photo gallery of 20 franc French gold coins
• Monnaies de Napoléon
• A list of interesting articles, in French
• Cotations des pièces de 20 francs or françaises

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2007)