French Gold 40 Franc, VF/XF

Napoleon I design (Minted 1807-1813)

"He is the sworn foe of our nation, and, if you will, the whole human race." -- Thomas Campbell "I considered Napoleon’s presence in the field equal to forty thousand men in the balance." -- The Duke of Wellington "There are but two powers in the world, the sword and the mind. In the long run the sword is always beaten by the mind." -- Napoleon Bonaparte

Featuring the classic image of Napoleon Bonaparte crowned with imperial laurel leaves, struck during the height of his astonishing career, these beautiful and historic French Napoleon 40 franc gold coins are a “must-have” for military history buffs, European history hobbiests, and coin collectors alike.

When he became emperor Napoleon ordered all gold coinage not bearing his image to be melted down. As a result, most 20 and 40 franc Napoleon coins became heavily circulated and quite worn. Uncirculated examples today are exceedingly rare and expensive.

Examples in Very Fine to Extra Fine (VF/XF) condition, while still quite scarce, offer substantially better value. Our VF/XF coins are among the very nicest available in the market, hand-selected for in-grade technical merit.

The Genius of the Age

Admired by many as “the greatest man” and “genius” of his age, Napoleon Bonaparte stands alongside Alexander the Great as the most feared and respected military commander in European history. Until his famous defeat by Wellington and the British at Waterloo in 1815, Napoleon dominated European politics and military affairs as no one before him, leading France into its greatest period of glory and importance, only to lose it all to his relentless ambition for even greater power.

The Corsican Upstart

Rising from obscurity in Corsica to become First Consul of France in 1799, Consul for Life in 1802, and Emperor of the French in 1804, Napoleon was seen by many to embody the idea of an unlimited career open to individual talent. This was a truly revolutionary idea during an era when monarchs and aristocrats controlled every aspect of European life.

Among the ruling classes, however, Napoleon was demonized as a bloodthirsty conqueror who sought to overthrow the “natural order” of European society. Widely parodied in print as The Corsican Upstart, The Corsican Ogre, and The Beast of the Apocalypse, he was accused of being in league with the devil to subvert all goodness and civilization.

The Code Napoleon

Napoleon, however, proved to be not only a first-rate military strategist but an excellent civil administrator as well. With extraordinary energy, intelligence, and charisma, he devised and enacted fundamental changes in French government and social life that persist even to this day.

One of his greatest achievements was the Code Napoleon, or Civil Code, which revised French law to incorporate many of the freedoms gained during the French revolution. The Code introduced the concept of a unified, logical system of laws based on universal principles. Napoleon spread his Code into every country he defeated, helping to eliminate the last vestiges of feudalism throughout Europe.

French Napoleon 40 franc coins commemorate Napoleon’s meteoric career. Struck during the height of his power, these beautiful gold coins glorify the legacy of a man who continues to influence the world in profound ways today, nearly two centuries after this death.

French Gold 40 Francs, Napoleon I

Shop with confidence at The Gold Coin Store. Satisfaction 100% guaranteed!

Design Specifications

Minted	1807-1813
Gold content	0.3734 oz.
Weight	12.9 grams
Fineness	.900 Fine

Quick links for U.S. gold coins -
$20 Saint-Gaudens gold coins - $20 Liberty gold coins - $10 Liberty gold coins - $5 Liberty gold coins - $2.50 Liberty gold coins - $10 Indian gold coins - $5 Indian gold coins - $2.50 Indian gold coins

Quick links for World gold coins -
French Angel gold coins - French Rooster gold coins - Swiss Helvetia gold coins - British Sovereign gold coins, Victoria Old Head - British Sovereign gold coins, Edward VII - British Sovereign gold coins, George V - British Sovereign gold coins, Canada Mint - British Sovereign gold coins, India Mint - Netherlands 10 guilder gold coins - German 20 marks Wilhelm II gold coins - Russian 10 rubles gold coins - Russian 5 rubles gold coins - Belgian gold 20 francs, Albert I, Military Bust - Argentinian Gold "Argentino" 5 Pesos Liberty design - Cuban 5 Peso Jose Marti design - Cuban 10 Peso Jose Marti design - Saudi Arabian Gold Guineas - Hungary Gold 20 Korona, Franz Joseph I

Quick links for U.S. silver dollars -
Morgan silver dollars, S-mint - Morgan silver dollars, P-mint - Morgan silver dollars, O-mint - Morgan silver dollars, CC-mint - Peace silver dollars

  

Order securely online:	Use your Visa or MasterCard for immediate delivery. Our servers are secure. Your order is quick and worry free!
Order by phone:	Call us at 800-613-9323, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (CST), Monday through Friday, to place an order or consult with one of our gold or rare coin experts.
Guarantee:	If you're not happy with your coins for any reason, you may return them within 14 days for a full refund, no questions asked! See our No Risk 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for details. See our policies.
Shipping:	Click here for shipping details.