Description
Augustin Dupres choice of the angel on coinage for France comes from a fantastical story. Set to lose his head to the guillotine during the French Revolution, he was spared by a bolt of lightning which startled the executioner and delayed the execution. He later received a stay and credited his life to an angel coin he had in his pocket. Later, Napoleon Bonaparte carried an early angel coin in his pocket on military campaigns, losing his coin the night before Frances devastating loss at the Battle of Waterloo.
On the obverse of these 20 Francs Gold Coins is the image of the Guardian Angel, otherwise known as Genius. Her winged figure is depicted standing at a column as she makes inscriptions on the French constitution while a French rooster looks on. Engravings identify the era of issue with Republique Francaise, which translates as French Republic.
The reverse of the coins includes the common wreath circle with the legend in the center. That legend includes the face value of the gold coins as well as its individual year of issue dated between 1871 and 1898. The coins also include the French motto of Liberte Egalite Fraternite.
The 20 Francs Gold Coins in this listing come from 1871 to 1898, the primary mintage period for the Guardian Angel design. All coins of this era were minted by the Paris Mint location.
