Pre-SaleShips on or around {{presale_date}}
Please note this is a PRESALE item and is expected to ship on or around {{presale_date}}. ALL orders containing this product will be held from shipping until at least {{presale_date}}. This ship date may vary slightly as it is wholly dependent upon the mint meeting their production schedule.
{{/presale}}There are two versions of the Napoleon III 20 Franc: the Bare Head and the Laureate Head. Both display a portrait of Napoleon III, but the latter shows the emperor wearing a wreath. The inscriptions “NAPOLEON III EMPEREUR” appear at the edge along the name “BARRE” as a nod to the coin’s designer. The Bare Head style was struck from 1852 to 1860, while the laureate edition was made from 1861 to 1870.
When the portrait of Napoleon was modified in 1861, the coin’s reverse underwent a redesign too. The 1852 to 1860 Bare Head version features a wreath with the country of origin (“EMPIRE FRANCAIS”) at the edge, along with the date and denomination in the center. The coin’s mintmark is engraved at the bottom; A refers to the Paris Mint while BB is the mintmark of the Strasbourg facility. On the 1861 to 1870 edition, meanwhile, the wreath is replaced by the empire’s coat of arms.
The reign of Napoleon III was marked by turmoil, war, and controversy. One could argue that Napoleon III had the ambition and drive of his uncle (the famous Napoleon I), but lacked the same level of military and leadership skill. Nonetheless, the French ruler projected an image of power on this country’s coinage. The 20 Franc proudly declared Napoleon III as the emperor. Even though France as a nation had its ups and downs in the mid-late 19th century, its 20 Franc gold pieces became one of the world’s most popular coins. To this day, it remains a trusted and low-premium means of owning gold.
Individual 20 Franc Napoleon gold coins will be shipped in clear plastic flips. Quantities of 40 may be shipped in hard plastic tubes.
Reserve your Napoleon III 20 Francs by placing your order online or calling a Provident representative at 800-313-3315.
When the subtotal of your purchase, including applicable discounts, is $199 or more, you receive free shipping for your entire order. In order to receive free shipping on purchases of $199 or more, you must live within the 50 US states. For orders less than $199, a $9.95 shipping fee applies. All products are discreetly packaged and shipped with full insurance included.
Most Provident orders are shipped within one (1) business day of your payment clearing. Payments made via PayPal clear instantly. Bitcoin payments clear instantly once the transaction is confirmed. Credit Card and bank wire payments process within 1 business day. ACH and paper check payments take 3-5 business days. Once payments are processed, products are released to fulfillment for packaging and shipping.
All orders of $199 or more that are eligible for free shipping are, by default, shipped via a carrier of our choice (USPS or UPS). Depending on the contents and size of your purchase, you may be able to upgrade to a specific carrier during checkout.
For those orders of $999.99 or less, there is no need to sign for your package. However, you may select the option to require a signature at delivery if you want. This can be chosen and paid for at checkout. All orders of $1000 or more require a signature to complete delivery.
Provident is only able to ship to addresses in any of the 50 US states. This includes P.O. boxes and APO addresses.