Rare Antique 1877 Gold Coin 20 FRANCS LUCKY ANGEL FRANCE 6.45 GRAMS 0.1837 oz

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1877 GOLD 20 FRANCS *LUCKY ANGEL* FRANCE 6.45 GRAMS 0.1837 Oz Beautiful and historic with a fascinating legend behind them, Angels are a superlative choice for European gold coin collectors and gold bullion investors alike. Minted from 1871 to 1898, Angels are also one of the only Pre-1900 dated European gold coins trading at anywhere near their gold value. Angels in Brilliant Uncirculated condition are five to ten times more scarce than later date French 20 Franc Roosters and Swiss 20 Franc Helvetias, The legend of the Lucky Angel The magnificent “Guardian Angel” design on the obverse was originally created during the French Revolution by Augustine Dupré. In 1871, the design was resurrected by the Third Republic for the French gold 20-franc coin. Almost from the beginning, gold Angels were regarded as lucky charms. Their legend began during the Reign of Terror in the mid-1790s, when the coin’s designer, Augustus Dupré, claimed to have been saved from the guillotine by the lucky Angel coin in his pocket. Dupré is said to make a quick prayer as he knelt beneath the deadly blade. A bolt of lightning then struck nearby, igniting a panic and halting his execution. Within six months Dupré was released, after which he always remained thankful for the coin’s protection. The Angel’s reputation for good luck is legendary. Mid-19th century Captains seldom went to sea without one. French pilots in World War I rarely took flight without a gold Angel coin in their kit, believing it would protect them from the Red Baron and his aces. During World War II, the chief of Hitler’s Luftwaffe, Hermann Goering, became obsessed with these French Angel coins. Confiscating all he could find, he presented them to ace German fighter pilots as rewards for every fifth Allied plane shot down. Napoleon is supposedly to have lost his the day before his defeat at Waterloo. Country: FRANCE Date: 1877, Second Republic (A - Paris mint) Denomination: 20 Francs Reported Mintage: 12.759.000 KM (Krause-Mishler) Catalog: KM# 825 Weight: 6.4516 g. (0.1837 oz., 0.900 GOLD) Diameter: 22 mm Obverse Design: Angel Reverse Design: Inscriptions and wreath Additional Comments: Scarce French solid gold coin. This coin has been nicknamed, "THE ANGEL". The actual figure created by the engraver, Dupre, was that of the winged figure personified as "GENIUS" who is writing the First French Constitution from 1793. This same design was in fact used on the French coinage of 1793. Investment Grade (This designation indicates the coin has value greater than its " Melt Value ", coins valued only for their precious metals content are called "junk" since they have no " collectible" value. Another way to explain the difference is to ask yourself the following question. Would I rather have this coin or would a melted puddle of its gold content be of equal value to me? If you would rather have the coin, how much of a premium above the melt value would that be? For some rare coins the premium is so high the melt value is a negligible part of its value. For some coins the premium is a negligible part of the value and essentially its value will always just be a tiny percent over its spot value on the market for its metal content. I hope this helps you price rare collectible coins such as this one. (One way to judge a coins rarity is to see how easy is it to procure 10 of them in any given month.) Sometime s only one or two will be advertised on the open market and actually getting 10 of that coin is next to impossible in a time frame of less than a month or two. Please Note: 3 Day Handling So I can retrieve from safe deposit box. See HD Scan coin scanned = coin shipped (Signature Required) (Signature required adds $2.00 + $5.00 for Priority) Ebay requires a signature for items that sell for over $200. Priority mail isn't "stolen" as often and a Signature should eliminates local thieves who might want your mail. read more

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