Description
Denomination: Gold 40 Francs
Period: First Empire
Date: 1811 A
Origin: Paris mint (cockerel)
Condition: AVF (900.0 fineness gold)
Obverse: Head left (engravers name DROZ F on neck). legend NAPOLEON EMPEREUR. around
Reverse: Denomination within a wreath. REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE around. date below. edge inscription DIEU PROTAGE LA FRANCE (God Protect France)
Size and Weight: 25mm. 12.81g
References: KM# 696.1 for type
Features and Provenance: He was born in Corsica in 1769 and became one of the most infamous military leaders of history; a mere paragraph cannot do him justice.
Once he had joined the French army. he swiftly rose through the ranks during the French Revolution (1789-1799) to become a very successful campaigner and leader. although his diplomacy was lacking and he managed to upset every country in Europe and many beyond.
In 1804 he crowned himself Emperor of France. In 1812. after a disastrous invasion of Russia he abdicated and was exiled on Elba. He was soon back. but in 1815 after the Battle of Waterloo the British exiled him again. but to St Helena. where he died in 1821 possibly of stomach cancer but he may have been poisoned.
The British didn’t know what to do with the body. so they buried him on the island and it was not until the mood had changed in France that he was returned. 20 years later! He was interred in Paris and bizarrely inside five coffins with intricate locks!
Condition Summary. This varies with the age of coin and there are grades between
Uncirculated (U). As struck with no traces of wear
Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear. all parts of legend etc present. visible and clear
Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief. all parts of legend etc present. but maybe worn
Fine (F). Wear on the coin and parts of legend etc may be missing or not visible
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