France Gold 20 Francs French Rooster Coin (1899–1914)
Gold Silver Crypto buys and sells France Gold 20 Francs Rooster coins from our Highland, Utah location. Pricing depends on live gold value, date, condition, authenticity, and current market demand.
Images are for educational/reference use and may not represent current inventory.
France 20 Francs Rooster Coin Specifications
| Metal | Gold |
| Purity | 90% gold / .900 fine |
| Pure gold content | 0.1867 troy oz (approximately 5.806 g) |
| Total weight | 6.4516 g |
| Diameter | Approximately 21 mm |
| Face value | 20 francs |
| Country | France |
| Years minted (this design) | 1899–1914 |
| Mint | Paris Mint (Monnaie de Paris) |
| Designer | Jules-Clément Chaplain |
| Obverse (Rooster side) | Gallic rooster on a mound, "20 Fcs" and date |
| Reverse (Marianne side) | Marianne portrait, "Republique Francaise" |
The coin contains a fraction of a troy ounce of pure gold — 0.1867 troy oz — not a full ounce. Total weight is higher than pure gold content because the coin is .900 fine gold, not pure gold. The 20-franc denomination is not the coin's modern market value; price is based on actual gold content plus current market demand.
We Buy France 20 Francs Rooster Coins
Photographs can help start a discussion, but authenticity and final pricing require physical evaluation.
How We Price France 20 Francs Rooster Coins
An offer is built from several layers, not gold value alone:
- Live gold value based on 0.1867 troy oz of pure gold
- Date shown on the coin
- Condition and surface quality
- Raw versus PCGS or NGC certification
- Authenticity
- Current bullion and collector demand
- Quantity
Common-date examples trade primarily as recognizable European gold bullion, close to gold value plus a modest premium. We do not publish a fixed buy percentage or a permanent value.
About the France 20 Francs Rooster Coin
This 20 Francs gold coin, commonly called the “Rooster” or “Coq” type, was designed by sculptor Jules-Clément Chaplain and struck by the Paris Mint from 1899 to 1914. It replaced earlier 20 Francs gold designs, including coins featuring Napoleon III.
One side (commercially marketed as the obverse) features a Gallic rooster — a national symbol of France — standing on a mound, with the “20 Fcs” denomination and the year of minting. The other side depicts Marianne, the personification of the French Republic, wearing a Phrygian cap adorned with oak leaves, with “Republique Francaise” inscribed around the border.
Production ended in 1914 with the outbreak of World War I. The coin remains one of the most widely traded pre-1933-era European gold coins, popular for its low premium over gold content and long production run.
France 20 Francs Rooster vs. U.S. Gold Coins
The French 20 Francs Rooster contains less gold than a full one-ounce American coin like the American Gold Eagle, but more than the smallest fractional sizes.
| Feature | France 20 Francs Rooster | 1 oz American Gold Eagle |
|---|---|---|
| Country | France | United States |
| Years minted (this design) | 1899–1914 | 1986–present |
| Purity | .900 fine | .9167 fine (22 karat) |
| Actual gold content | 0.1867 troy oz | 1.000 troy oz |
| Total weight | 6.4516 g | 33.931 g |
| Face value | 20 francs | $50 |
| Primary market | European bullion and world-coin collecting | Modern bullion |
The Rooster coin should not be compared to a one-ounce coin without adjusting for actual gold content — it contains less than one-fifth of a troy ounce.
Our Take
The France 20 Francs Rooster is a classic, widely recognized European gold coin with a long production history and a genuine pre-1933-era pedigree. Most dates are common and trade close to gold value, making it a reasonably efficient way to hold a small amount of historic gold.
Buyers must account for the actual gold content — 0.1867 troy oz per coin — rather than assuming it behaves like a one-ounce product. Sellers should not expect a large collector premium on common dates, since this series was produced in large quantities.
Buyers who want a full troy ounce of gold in coin form may prefer the American Gold Eagle or a 1 oz gold bar. Buyers interested in historic world gold may also want to compare the Mexican 50 Peso Centenario.
Common Mistakes When Selling a France 20 Francs Rooster Coin
Assuming the coin contains a full troy ounce of gold
A French 20 Francs Rooster coin contains 0.1867 troy oz of pure gold — a small fraction of an ounce, not a full ounce like an American Gold Eagle or Gold Maple Leaf.
Treating the 20-franc denomination as market value
The 20-franc face value is a historical legal-tender denomination, not the coin's modern gold value. Price is based on actual gold content plus current market premium.
Confusing the Rooster design with other French 20 Francs types
France issued several different 20 Francs gold coin designs over the years, including Napoleon III types. The 1899–1914 Rooster (Coq) design is a distinct type — do not assume all French 20 Francs coins are identical.
Assuming every date is rare
Most dates in this series are common bullion-oriented coins produced in large quantities. Do not assume rarity or a large collector premium without verifying the specific date and mintage.
Cleaning or polishing the coin
Cleaning can create surface damage and does not add value. Bring the coin in as-is or text photos before doing anything to it.
Comparing online retail ask prices to dealer buy prices
An online retail asking price includes dealer margin. A dealer's buy price reflects costs, inventory, and the resale market.
Trusting weight alone
Counterfeit and replica coins of popular European gold types exist. Weight alone does not prove authenticity — visual inspection and testing still matter.
Why Buy or Sell Locally in Highland, Utah
In-person evaluation
A historic gold coin deserves an in-person look, not a phone estimate.
No need to ship your coin
Bring your coin in — no shipping, insurance, or mail-related risk.
On-site verification and testing
We verify authenticity and gold content before making an offer.
Text photos before visiting
Send photos of both sides for a preliminary sense of value.
Single coins and larger collections
Whether you have one coin or a larger European gold collection, we can evaluate it.
Spot-based pricing
Offers follow live gold spot plus current market demand.
Gold Silver Crypto is based in Highland, Utah and serves customers throughout Utah Valley.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gold Silver Crypto buys France Gold 20 Francs Rooster coins at our Highland, Utah office. We evaluate the date, condition, and authenticity in person before making an offer. Call or text (385) 442-9636 to set up a time or ask questions first.
A French 20 Francs Rooster coin contains 0.1867 troy ounces of pure gold (approximately 5.806 grams). The coin is struck in .900 fine gold, so its total weight (6.4516 grams) is higher than its actual gold content.
The reverse of the coin features a Gallic rooster (coq gaulois) standing on a mound with the denomination "20 Fcs" and the year, a national symbol of France. The obverse (commercially, the more commonly featured side) shows Marianne, the personification of the French Republic, designed by sculptor Jules-Clément Chaplain.
This Rooster design (the Chaplain "Coq" type) was struck from 1899 to 1914. France also produced earlier and later 20 Francs gold coins with different designs, including the Napoleon III and Marianne/Genius types — those are different coins with the same denomination, not the same design.
No. The 20-franc denomination stamped on the coin is a historical legal-tender face value, not its modern market value. Price is based on the coin's actual gold content (0.1867 troy oz) plus the current market premium.
Not exactly. "Gold Napoleon" is a colloquial term sometimes used broadly for French 20 Francs gold coins, most specifically for the Napoleon III design. The Rooster (Coq) design from 1899–1914 is a distinct, later design featuring Marianne and the Gallic rooster rather than Napoleon's portrait, though dealers sometimes use the terms loosely.
Most dates from this series are common, widely available bullion-oriented gold coins, not rare collectibles. They are popular in Europe and internationally as a low-premium way to hold pre-1933-era gold. Some lower-mintage years may carry modest collector interest, but common dates should not be assumed rare.
Pricing is based on live gold spot, the coin's actual gold content (0.1867 troy oz), condition, authenticity, and current market demand. Common dates trade close to gold value plus a modest premium. We do not publish a fixed premium percentage or a permanent value.
No. Cleaning or polishing a gold coin can create surface damage and reduce its value, even though it does not remove gold content. Bring the coin in as-is or text photos before doing anything to it.
Yes. Text clear photos of the obverse and reverse, along with the date shown on the coin, to (385) 442-9636. Photos can help with a preliminary discussion, but final authentication and pricing require an in-person evaluation of the actual coin.
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Want pricing on a France 20 Francs Rooster coin?
Buying or selling a France Gold 20 Francs Rooster coin? Call or text Gold Silver Crypto with clear photographs of both sides, the date shown on the coin, quantity, and whether you are buying or selling. We provide quotes from our Highland, Utah location.
About This Page
Editorial note: France 20 Francs Rooster coin values depend on gold spot price, date, condition, and market demand. This page is intended as an identification and buying/selling guide, not a price list, appraisal, or financial advice.
Last updated: August 2026