The Complete History of Louis Napoleon and Gold

The Napoleon is a gold coin of French origin, created March 28, 1803 by the First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte. This coin bears the image profile of the Emperor, and has the same value as the Louis sports figure of Louis XIV. They remained in use until the First World War.

There are several types of Napoleon

- 20 francs, they are 21mm in diameter and a gross weight of 6.45grammes, they are composed of 90% pure gold (5801 grams net)

- 40 francs, with a diameter of 26 mm, it weighs 12.90 grams gross and consist of 90% pure gold (11.6 grams net)

- 10 francs, commonly called the half Napoleon, with a gross weight of 3225 grams, it is composed of 90% pure gold (2.9 grams of pure gold)

They were produced during the reign of Napoleon I and feature on the front is a portrait bareheaded or with a laurel wreath (Roman symbol of supreme authority) and bear the inscription "First Consul Bonaparte" or "Emperor Napoleon ". On the back you can find the legend "REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE" and after 1809 "FRENCH EMPIRE." These inscriptions are related to different political context of the time. Following the defeat of Austria in 1805, at the battle of Austerlitz and the annexation of Italy by France, Napoleon even produce gold coins of 20 lire under the auspices of the Kingdom of Italy.

The half-napoleon popular piece was the ultimate time of the gold franc and, therefore, is usually very worn. And finer, more than twenty francs, the ten-franc piece is normally treated on the basis of half the price of 20 francs Napoleon.

The real market is half that of Napoleon jewelery and parts rely on the market are designed to be mounted in rings, bracelets or necklaces.

By extension, in common usage, the name of Napoleon, now applies especially to all parts of 20 French francs in gold. These pieces were the subject of a listing on the Paris Stock Exchange until June 2004. Since that time, the ratings are done by private companies and vary from one to another. Of course, the condition of parts plays strongly on the negotiation of their redemption, hence the importance of protecting them in pouches of paper or plastics individual.