France – 20 Francs Gold Coin – Napoleon III (Bare Head) – 1859 BB – Strasbourg Mint Description: A great example of a classic French Second Empire gold coin. Struck in 1859 at the Strasbourg Mint (“BB” mint mark), this 20 Francs piece features the distinctive bare head portrait of Napoleon III engraved by Jean-Jacques Barre, with the laurel wreath reverse showing the denomination and date. Specifications: • Metal: Gold (.900 fineness) • Weight: 6.45 g (5.81 g fine gold / 0.1867 troy oz AGW) • Diameter: 21 mm • Type: Bare head / Tête nue (1853–1860 type) Condition: Circulated with well-preserved detail — please see photos for an accurate impression. Historical note: Napoleon III ruled France from 1852 to 1870, and these 20 Francs coins were central to European trade as part of the Latin Monetary Union’s gold standard. A solid pick for gold investors and 19th-century coin collectors alike.