An effective way to stack gold, either as a hedge or for financial security, is to buy low premium fractional gold coins. Some of the lowest premiums can be found in vintage gold coins. This include Pre-1933 US Mint gold coins as well as those that were minted throughout Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Most coins of this era were intended for circulation and use in merchant trade. They are minted from the same 21.6k gold found in modern American Gold Eagles and Krugerrands. However, these fractional gold coins, such as the 20 Francs Gold Coins, often carry the lowest premiums when compared to modern bullion coins.
With uncertain economic times ahead and the anticipation of regulation in the cryptocurrency market there are many investors looking for a safer hedge.
British Gold Sovereigns
The Gold Sovereign from Great Britain is one of the most common vintage gold bullion coins. The British Gold Sovereign has been minted since 1817, but it’s history dates back much further.
Most incorporate the iconic image of King George slaying a dragon on the reverse, with a portrait of the reigning monarch at the time of minting gracing the obverse.
Each British Gold Sovereign coin contains .2354 troy ounces of gold, just shy of a 1/4 troy ounce. There are dozens of variations of the Gold Sovereign, minted in 22k, 91.67% gold.
Gold Sovereigns are widely recognized worldwide and are considered to be a very liquid bullion coin. Since each coin contains just shy of quarter ounce of gold it is easy to store a tremendous amount of wealth in a compact amount of space.
Gold 20 Francs LMU
The Latin Monetary Union (LMU) was an establishment of a gold backed “Euro” currency. The LMU was established in 1865 by treaty between France, Switzerland and Italy. Other countries eventually joined, including Belgium, Spain and others. Each country was responsible for minting gold and silver coins that adhered to a standard based on the French Franc. The 20 Francs gold coins were minted by dozens of mints throughout Europe and other parts of the world by the millions spanning multiple decades. The United States even expressed interest in joining and developed several “pattern coins”, including the legendary Stella $4 gold coin. The Stella coin got its name from Latin translation of “star,” referring to the reverse.
The designs vary by country of origin, but most include a portrait of the reigning leader of the country at time of minting on the obverse. The reverse will also depend on the issuing country, but will often display the term “20 Francs” or some variation of it.
Some also include the local country currency as well. For example, the 20 Francs Coin from Italy also include “20 Lira”, the 20 Francs from Hungary includes the designation of “8 Forint”, Austria includes “8 Florin”, etc.
20 Francs Gold Coins have become very popular amongst stackers due to their low premiums and high liquidity. Each 20 Francs Gold Coin is minted from 90% gold and contains .1867 troy ounces of pure gold.
The Gold Ducat was used as a trade coin. Trading merchants would use these gold coins to settle accounts for large transactions and international trade. The Ducat became popular with the Venetians when Venice was a popular trading destination. Many countries issued Gold Ducat coins.
Each Gold 1 Ducat coin contains roughly .1123 troy ounces of pure gold. Each coin is minted from 98.6% gold. Larger sizes were minted, including the 4 Ducat.
Fractional gold coins are a great way to invest and provide a less expensive and practical way to accrue and stack gold.
Having a portion of savings set aside in precious metals can help provide a stable safety net or hedge against inflation and other investments.
Most countries throughout the world utilized currency coinage that was minted of silver and gold throughout the 1800s and into the early 1900s. The French Franc currency played an extensive role throughout the era and around the world.
The Latin Monetary Union (LMU) was a trade treaty signed by numerous European countries in 1865 that established the franc as a unified common currency based on the gold standard that helped to shape global trade for many decades. The treaty thrust the 20 francs gold coins into a role as a fundamental coin of merchant trade. A role it played for nearly one hundred years.
Each member nation began minting gold coins to the same standards to circulate for international merchant trade. All 20 francs gold coins are minted with planchets created from an alloy of 90% gold and 10% copper. The coins are each 21 mm in diameter with an overall gross weight of 6.45 grams.
The actual gold weight in each 20 francs coin is 5.80 grams, the equivalent of .1867 troy ounces. A stack of five of these coins is almost an ounce of gold.
These are one of the most popular gold bullion coins for investors. Vintage gold 20 francs are government minted coins that are today sold as bullion for their intrinsic value. These are often the cheapest gold coins available and are perfect for stacking.
Below is a brief description of some of the coins that were minted by France from the early 1800s until the early 1900s.
The era in the history of France commonly referred to as the Napoleonic Wars and lasted from 1803 until 1815, led by Emperor Napoleon I. At the height of his power, the emperor and his vast armies had taken control of much of mainland Europe. The First French Empire spanned from the eastern shores of Spain to the southern tip of Italy, all the way to the borders of Russia.
Napoleon had an extensive impact on the lands he conquered, improving and modernizing society through liberal reforms. Along the way, the wars brought vast amounts of gold into the French Empire and most of it was minted into 20 francs gold coins.
Napoleon I 20 Francs
Napoleon I brought sweeping reforms throughout the country, and helped France win significant military victories, eventually being granted the title of Emperor of France in 1804.
There is a broad variety of 20 francs gold coins that were produced bearing portraits of Napoleon, across dozens of mints throughout the France, Italy and even as far away as the Netherlands.
The 20 francs gold coins minted from 1804 until 1814 feature a leftward facing portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Bullion coins from this era can have a mix of obverse design as various portraits and titles were used throughout these years. The coins you receive when buying Napoleon I 20 Francs Gold coins are chosen at random from available inventory and could be from mix of years and mint marks.
The early coins featured a young Napoleon with hair cropped wavy and long that was carved by Pierre-Joseph Tiolier, General Coin Engraver from Paris. The first coins include the title Premier Consul inscribed surrounding the portrait. This was later updated to read “Empereur”.
Louis XVIII 20 Francs
Following Napoleon’s second exile from France, King Louis XVIII reigned from 1815 until his death in 1824. The gold coins minted during this era had a right facing effigy bust of Louis that was modified in 1816 to remove the appearance of the military dress uniform.
The coins feature inscriptions on the front that include the name of King Louis XVIII, along with his title “ROI DE FRANCE”. The mark for the artist and engraver is incorporated below the portrait.
The reverse side of these coins contains a simple wreath motif that shows the face value and year-date of minting.
Charles X 20 Francs
Charles X 20 Francs gold coin
The reign of King Charles X last from 1824 until 1830. During the short reign lasting just six years, the king lost popularity amongst the liberals of French society.
The conservative policies directed from his regime are largely responsible for leading to the July Revolution which deposed the ruler and put in place his more liberal cousin, King Louis Philippe I.
The portrait was engraved by medalist and sculptor Auguste-François Michaut with the obverse engraving bearing his name and title reading “CHARLES X ROI DE FRANCE”, which translates to “Charles X King of France”.
Roughly 1.5 million Charles X 20 francs gold coins were produced with this design across four French mints.
Louis Philippe I 20 Francs
Louis Philippe I was nicknamed the “Citizen King” and served as the King from 1830 until 1848. Under his reign, known as the July Monarchy, the French economy was dominated and largely influence by wealthy industrialists and bankers
Louis Philippe expanded relations with Great Britain and sponsored colonial expansion, most notably with the acquisition of Algeria.
This king was considered a repressive ruler following his brother’s reign and many at the time felt him to be an illegitimate king. Many uprisings occurred in France throughout the 1830s, Louis-Philippe clamped down on dissent and gained a reputation for supporting the interests of the rich.
Many of the poorer class of citizens grew resentful and Louis-Philippe escaped from eight assassination attempts before he finally fled to England.
During his 18 years in power, the more than six million Louis-Philippe 20 Francs gold coins were minted at various minting facilities throughout the country. The obverse bust portrait was created by engraver Joseph-François Domard. The reverse depicts the crowned coat of arms enwreathed with the year-date of minting and legal-tender face value of 20 Francs.
Napoleon III 20 Francs
Napoleon III was President of the Republic of France from 1848 to 1852 and remained the last monarch until he was deposed in 1870. During his time leading the country he focused on building infrastructure for the country, leading to growth in the industrial base, economic expansion and the creation of new banks.
The banks provided the funding for Napoleon III’s major projects, which included massive steamships to reach far away colonies and railways and canals to connect the country’s major cities and trade hubs, and the rebuilding of Paris. Funding from the banks was funneled into developing new neighborhoods that are among the most famous and prominent amongst the Right Bank, such as rue de Rivoli, Opéra, and place de l’Etoile.
Various styles of the Napoleon III 20 Francs Gold coin were minted under his reign with two similar, though notably different obverse designs that commonly circulated during this period that are frequently found when buying random 20 francs gold coins.
The first, issued from 1853 until 1860 featured a rightward facing Napoleon III that was created from a portrait by artist Jean-Jacques Barre. The portrait features a bare headed emperor. More than 135 million gold coins were minted with this design over the seven year period making it a popular coin with bullion investors. These 20 francs gold Napoleon III coins have maintained their intrinsic value for more than 150 years due to the underlying gold content.
The second 20 francs Napoleon III gold coin was minted from 1861 until the end of his reign in 1870. The coin features a similar portrait, the primary difference appears to be that the monarch wearing a laurel wreath upon his head. More than 50 million of these coins were minted during this 18 year period.
It is very common to receive these as bullion coins when buying random year 20 francs gold coins, which remain incredible popular with investors. These coins were minted in mass quantities due to the establishment of the Latin Monetary Union during this period.
Lucky Angel 20 Francs
After the second exile of Napoleon III, the country turned to focus on more domestic measure starting with the Paris Commune in 1871. The Génie coin, often referred to as the Lucky Angel gold coin, was minted from 1871 until 1898.
The obverse design for the coin was created by artist and medallic sculptor Augustin Dupré who was the student of the sculptor David. The French Revolution gave him the opportunity to develop his art of engraving medals for soldiers as well as various coins. The iconic image on this coin represents the Guardian Angel Genius writing the constitution fresh on a blank tablet.
20 Francs Lucky Angel Gold Coin 1871-1898
The genie is turned to the right and is writing the word “constitution” on a table laid on a stone pillar. Other French cultural symbols are hidden in the design such as the cockerel, the lictor beam with the hand of justice above. The words “Republique Française” are written above the angel and Dupré’s signature mark can be found at the bottom.
The reverse design takes some added freedom in its departure from the previous designs. The traditional wreath and denomination value remain on the reverse in the center. In addition, inscriptions were added that instill some of the cultural values of the French people, including “Liberte”, “Egalite” and “Fraternite”.
More than 95 million 20 Francs gold Lucky Angel coins were minted from 1871 to 1898, with many surviving coins available today makes it one of the most popular fractional bullion coins for investors.
20 Francs Rooster Gold Coin
20 Francs Gold Rooster
The 20 Francs Gold Rooster was minted from 1899 until 1914. It is the last of the French 20 Francs Gold coins that was intended for circulation. Over 117,000,000 gold coins were minted. The denomination (known as the Franc Germinal) was in continual use through the 19th and 20th centuries.
The obverse of the coin has a profile of Marianne, the Goddess of Liberty who is symbolic of the French Republic. She is a symbol with origins in the 3rd French Republic and is a personification of liberty and reason. Inscribed around her are the words “République Française”.
The reverse displays a portrait of Le Coq Gaulois or Gallic Rooster, colloquially named Chantecler. The reverse includes the date and legal tender face value and is surrounded with the words “Liberté Egalité Fraternitén”, values that are still preserved in the culture of France today.
Even though most were minted well over 100 years ago, 20 Francs Gold Coins continue to be one of the most popular fractional gold coins today.
The 20 Francs Gold Coin began as a French coin in 1800 during the First Empire. The first coins were struck in Turin while it was under French control following the Battle of Marengo. The coin featured a helmeted soldier facing left wearing a laurel wreath upon his head.
In 1803, the Napoleon coin was introduced by Napoleon Bonaparte. The obverse of the coin featured a left facing bust of Napoleon I surrounded by the words “BONAPARTE PREMIER CONSUL”.
Latin Monetary Union
During the first half of the 19th century, the 20 Franc Napoleon gold coin circulated throughout France. By the mid 1800’s, Napoleon III, the nephew of Napoleon I envisioned a unified Europe. By treaty on December 23, 1865, France, Belgium, Italy and Switzerland formed the Latin Monetary Union (LMU).
A unified currency was created by the LMU that would be used for trade and recognized by all four countries. The new currency implemented by the LMU would be a bimetallism standard based on the French Franc. Each LMU Franc represented 4.5 grams of fine silver or .290322 grams of fine gold.
Several years later, Greece joined the original four countries in the treaty. Spain and Romania considered joining and made attempts to conform their currency to LMU standards. Austria-Hungary rejected bimetallism and refused to join, but later signed a treaty with France to mint some of their gold currency to LMU standards.
By 1873, the LMU had moved to a gold standard due to increasing silver imports dampening prices.
LMU member countries were responsible for the minting of millions of 20 Franc gold coins. Today, the most popular of these coins are:
Other common variations of the 20 Francs that are common to find to buy for a low premium over spot price include 20 Francs from Belgium and 20 Lira Gold Coins from Italy.
It is a cycle that may seem familiar. Collapse of the housing sector, collapse of the stock market, bank runs and shutdowns. You may remember some of the symptoms leading up to the 2008 financial crisis. It’s looking similar this time around. The stock market drops and trillions of dollars in wealth vanishes into thin air for millions of people.
Some investors started shifting money into more stable assets throughout the pandemic. Few assets are as trusted and as reliable as a store of value as is gold.
Shopping for gold coins can be overwhelming and confusing in the beginning. There hundreds of online bullion dealers to choose from, and almost every single one offers the exact same product at a different price.
A wise choice for if you’re interested enough to buy gold coins is to stick with holding items that are widely available and likely to be widely recognized. This will make it easier to sell later on.
The American Eagle and Maple Leaf are two of the most widely recognized modern gold coins in the world. Others include Krugerrands, Kangaroos and Britannias.
Vintage coins are also an excellent option. Especially for fractional gold. These coins are steeped in history.
Most of the world economies operated on a gold-standard up until the 1920s. Gold coins were commonplace and circulating for everyday transactions.
Historic gold coins are also a great example to show how gold is a long term store of value and wealth.
Many are still legal-tender today based on their face value. Though the intrinsic value of the metal is worth significantly more.
Coins like the Gold Corona, $10 gold eagle, British Sovereigns and Swiss 20 Francs are often some of the lowest premium fractional gold coins available to investors in current markets.
What makes sovereign gold coins a better investment?
Modern going coins are minted in mass quantities each year. The designs are widely known amongst investor and collectors. Many investment-grade coins, such as the Krugerrand, have had the same consistent design for decades.
Simply put: coins minted by a government come with a guarantee of the weight, purity and quality.
The purity, weight and specifications of these coins is well documented and a well-trained eye can usually identify counterfeits.
Vintage sovereign coins, such as British Sovereigns, 20 Francs Coins from the Latin Monetary Union and Gold Pesos from Mexico all make a solid gold investment.
Historic gold coins are most often in circulated condition and will show some signs of handling, light scratches and other minor imperfections and you can usually buy them at a better price than modern coins.
