Paris, 1811

40 Francs

In 1803 Napoleon Bonaparte, as First Consul, introduced the gold 20 franc coin, which was set at 21 mm in diameter and at a weight of 6.45 g of 0.900 fi ne gold. The coin featured Napoleon’s portrait on the obverse. Depending on the political situation of France, the legend on the obverse was either BONAPARTE PREMIER CONSUL (1799-1804) or NAPOLEON EMPEREUR (1804-1814), and on the reverse the legends read either RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE or, after 1809, EMPIRE FRANÇAIS. The 20 franc gold coin continued in use throughout the 19th century, and later French gold coins in the same denomination – no matter who subsequently issued them – are known colloquially as ‘napoleons’ and the 40 franc coins as ‘double napoleons’.

Obv.: A laureate head of Napoleon I, facing left; DROZ F on the truncation corresponds to the name of the engraver Jean-Pierre Droz (1746-1823); below the head Tr in cursive corresponds to the privy mark of Pierre-Joseph Tiolier, the Engraver General; surrounded by a French legend.

Rev. and edge: Denomination 40 / FRANCS in a wreath of olive branches tied at their base; below the date AN 12 [1811]; to the left a rooster corresponds to the privy mark of Charles-Pierre de l’Espine, Director of the Paris Mint; to the right the letter A corresponds to the mint mark of the Paris Mint; surrounded by a French legend.

Legend: EMPIRE FRANÇAIS, meaning ‘French Empire’.