France 20 Francs Gold Coin 1913 Marianne and Rooster
The French 20 Francs Rooster is one of the most affordable, and therefore popular, of all classic European gold coins.Obverse: Profile bust right of Marianne with long hair. She is wearing the Phrygian cap with oak wreath. Besides the neck Marianne is the name of the engraver CHAPLAIN.
Woman’s head is surrounded by the words “REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE”.
Lettering: REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE · CHAPLAIN
Engraver: Jules-Clément Chaplain
Reverse: Rooster standing on the earth bearing in its beak herbs and some flowers. Value "20 francs".
Lettering: LIBERTE·EGALITE·FRATERNITE · 20 Fcs 1913
Engraver: Jules-Clément Chaplain
Edge Lettering: *++*LIBERTÉ+*ÉGALITÉ+*FRATERNITÉ
Metal: Gold (.9000).
AGW: 0.1867oz.
Weight: 6.45161 g.
Diameter: 21 mm.
Thickness: 1.25 mm.
Minted at the Paris Mint.
The French Gold 20 Franc Rooster coins were minted between 1899 and 1914. Each coin is struck from 6.4516g of 90% pure gold with an actual gold weight of 0.1867oz. All dates from 1907 to 1914 have been officially restruck at the Paris Mint, which were issued 1921 and 1951-1960.
Marianne
Marianne is a national symbol of the French Republic, an allegory of liberty and reason, and a portrayal of the Goddess of Liberty.
Marianne is displayed in many places in France and holds a place of honour in town halls and law courts. She symbolizes the "Triumph of the Republic", a bronze sculpture overlooking the Place de la Nation in Paris. Her profile stands out on the official government logo of the country, is engraved on French euro coins and appears on French postage stamps; it also was featured on the former franc currency. Marianne is one of the most prominent symbols of the French Republic, and is officially used on most government documents.
Marianne is a significant republican symbol, opposed to monarchy, and an icon of freedom and democracy against all forms of dictatorship. Other national symbols of France include the tricolor flag, the national motto Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité, the national anthem La Marseillaise, as well as the coat of arms and the official Great Seal of France.
Jules-Clément Chaplain (12 July 1839 – 13 July 1909) was a French sculptor and one of its finest medallists.
The Gallic rooster (French: le coq gaulois) is an unofficial national symbol of France as a nation, as opposed to Marianne representing France as a State, and its values: the Republic. The rooster is also the symbol of the Wallonia region and the French Community of Belgium.
The Phrygian cap is a soft conical cap with the top pulled forward, which was worn by the freed slaves of Rome as a symbol that they were now Roman citizens - free people. Thus the cap became a symbol of freedom and liberty.