The 20 gold francs 1859 coins, also called Napoleon, often confused with the gold Louis, are highly prized by collectors and investors. They owe their name to the first consul Napoleon Bonaparte who decided to manufacture them in 1803. The first coins of 20 gold francs 1859 also bear his profile in effigy. They remained in use until the First World War.
Composed of 90% pure gold and 10% copper, the Napoleons, often abbreviated “Nap”, weigh 5.806 grams and have a diameter of 21 mm. They are often confused with the Louis d’or of which they have the same value.
The rarity and value of the 20 gold franc 1859 coins fluctuate depending on the number of coins produced in each year. Some were manufactured in thousands of copies, others in hundreds only which obviously gives them much more value.
The 20 gold franc 1859 coin is very popular with the general public because of its price, which is still affordable.