Napoleon

Taikonaut

Anyone here collects gold Napoleons? I've heard that there are very few made compared to US gold coins and even fewer survived from being melted and has been very much underrated. I am curious could this be in part because coin collecting is less popular in France? A report also said an American collector is promoting serious interests in Napoleans and currently posses the best collection anywhere so things could change in a few years.

GDJMSP

I'd be interested in reading that report about an American collector you mentioned - got a link ?

Now then - your comment about Napoleon gold coins as compared to US gold coins is generally true. But it's also true about world gold in general. And as little as a year ago I would have agreed with the comment collecting that French gold coins was underated. Unfortunately the secret got out. I never shoulda posted all those pics

And I certainly wouldn't say that coin collecting is less popular in France. We're all a bunch of rank beginners when compared to some of those guys !

Taikonaut

I dont have the link anymore. I do have two Napoleon 40 francs, one is 1805 same year as Battle of Trafalgar which is exactly 200 years, the other is 1811 in top condition with natural greenish toning and lusture bought from a seller in France. These coins has a hand stamped lettering on the edge held by a vice therefore the edges looks rather crude. While all gold coins have risen recently I have to say French coins are still underrated especially compared to UK gold sovereign and guineas produced in the same period and similar quantities and I can only attribute this to the popularity of coin collecting could be less popular in France than the UK or US.

GDJMSP

Must say, I've never heard about the hand stamping of the edge - the French perfected edge milling in 1639, long before Napoleon. I do agree though that french coinage is far less popular than UK or US coinage. But I don't think it has much to do with the popularity in France itself - here in the US, absolutely.

Many of the French gold coins cost a good bit more in France than they do here in the US. But popularity in the US is gaining quickly. Many of the French coins I collect have doubled in price over the past year. I wish they'd slow down - I've got lots I want yet.

MacCrimmon

<< <i>A report also said an American collector is promoting serious interests in Napoleans and currently posses the best collection anywhere so things could change in a few years. >>

Maybe the collector who put together a large collection of French proof and pattern strikings in top FDC condition?

Marc Emory (sp?), the Professional Numismatist, was reported in CW years ago as acquiring not just gold but anything French in the highest grades possible....were they for a client or his own collection? Sorry, I do not know.

coinkat

Some of the silver Napoleon 5FR and even the 2FR coins can be tough in high unc grades.