Dear gerald1935,
The golden 20 Francs coin commonly referred to as "Napoléon d'or" was
introduced on 27 March 1803, by order of Napoléon Bonaparte, who was
then still lifelong First Consul. The introduction of that gold coin
was part of a complete redefination of the French currency based upon
a standard with fixed relation of value between gold and silver
(bimetalism).
Napoléon's order from 27 March 1803 (according to the Revolutionary
Calendar, 14 Germinal IX, hence the name "Franc Germinal" for the
reorganized currency) defined 1 French Franc as having the fixed value
of "5 grams of silver, of which 9/10 are fine silver". Only the
highest value 20 Francs coins were made from gold.
The 20 Francs coin as defined by Napoléon's order consisted of "6.45
grams of gold, of which 5.801 grams are fine gold".
The 20 Francs coins, showing Napoléon's portrait, became known as
"Napoléon d'or" all over Europe. After the end of Napoléon's reign,
the gold-and-silver based currency definition was not changed; the
gold coins did not only keep their value and their status as legal
tender, but the monarchs and republican governments also continued
issuing new ones. Those, however, not with the former Emperor's
likeness but with the portraits of the kings, or republican symbols,
respectively. Under Napoléon III they showed again an Emperor's
portrait, followed by republican designs after 1870. Over all those
years, and dispite the political instability of France in certain
periods, the gold-based Franc was a remarkably stable currency. Since
the currency and its defination were not changed by the various
regimes and governments, old coins retained their value.
With the beginning of World War I in 1914, the French government
stopped minting golden 20 Francs coins, Napoléon d'ors, after 111
years.
In 1928, the bimetalism system that formed the basis of the French
currency since 1803 was finally abandoned as a result of post-war
inflation. With the new definition of 1 Franc equaling the value of
65.6 grams of gold, of which 90% are fine gold, the "20 Francs"
inscription on the Napoléon d'ors did not correspond with their actual
gold value anymore.
I hope that this is what you desired to know.
Regards,
Scriptor
Sources:
Herodote: 27 March 1803 - Birth of the Franc Germinal (in French)
http://www.herodote.net/histoire03271.htm
Wikipedia: Franc Germinal (in French)
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franc_français#Franc_Germinal
Reppa Numismatic Encyclopedia: Napoleon (in German)
http://www.muenzengalerie.de/lex.asp?ordner=n&link=Napoleon.htm |
