French Empire

Napoleon III

Gold Coin 20 Franc

法蘭西帝國

拿破崙三世

20法郎金幣

Item number: A1585

Year: AD 1859

Material: Gold (.900)

Size: 21.2 x 21.2 x 1.1 mm

Weight: 6.4 g

Manufactured by: Paris Mint

Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2016

This is a 20-franc gold coin minted in AD 1859 by the Paris Mint and issued by the Bank of France.

The obverse features a right-facing portrait of Napoleon III, encircled by the inscription “NAPOLEON III EMPEREUR” in French, translating to “Napoleon III Emperor.” Below the portrait, the name “BARRE” appears alongside an anchor symbol, serving as the signature and mark of Désiré-Albert Barre, the Chief Engraver of the Paris Mint at the time. To the left of “BARRE,” a hand with the thumb and index finger extended signifies the mark of Charles-Louis Dierickx, the Director of the Paris Mint. It was under his tenure that the modernisation, reorganisation, and expansion of the franc were accomplished.

The reverse displays “20 FRANCS 1860” at its centre, indicating the denomination and year of issue. This is encircled by a wreath of olive branches, symbolising peace and prosperity. Around the outer edge, the inscription “EMPIRE FRANCAIS” translates to “French Empire.” Below, the letter “A” denotes the Paris Mint.

The coin’s edge bears the inscription “★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIEU ★ PROTEGE ★ LA ★ FRANCE,” meaning “God Protects France.”

By AD 1859, the Second French Empire had reached its zenith. Under the rule of the elected emperor Napoleon III, Paris underwent extensive modernisation. Simultaneously, France actively expanded its railway network, industrialised, and promoted international trade. That same year, a trade treaty was signed with Britain, advancing the principles of free trade.

In the mid-19th century, the Napoleonic Wars had facilitated the adoption of the metric system and decimal currency. Coupled with monetary instability caused by international events, several nations began integrating into the franc-based monetary system. The establishment of the Latin Monetary Union in AD 1865 further solidified the franc as a prototype for an international currency, enhancing its influence across Europe and the Mediterranean.

Riding the momentum of victory in the Crimean War, the French Empire intervened in the Second Italian War of Independence in AD 1859, aiding the Kingdom of Sardinia in its victory over Austria and securing Lombardy, thereby paving the way for Italian unification. At the time, this war cemented France’s dominance in European affairs. Concurrently, France continued its expansion into North Africa and launched military campaigns in Cochinchina and Mexico, seeking to re-establish its colonial empire.

Yet, beneath the facade of imperial grandeur lay the seeds of its downfall. Free trade policies undermined protected domestic industries, provoking a surge of conservative opposition. The Latin Monetary Union and French involvement in the Italian conflict alarmed Prussia, exacerbating Franco-Prussian competition and hostilities. In AD 1859, upon returning from his intervention in Italy, Napoleon III granted amnesty to political prisoners, reversing his initial policy of suppressing dissent. He gradually relaxed press censorship to divide the opposition. This combination of repression and concessions ensured a Bonapartist victory in the 1870 elections. However, that same year, after the disastrous defeat at Sedan, Napoleon III was captured by Prussian forces, and with him fell the last French monarch, bringing an abrupt end to the empire.

物件編號: A1585

年代: 公元 1859 年

材質: 黃金 (900‰)

尺寸: 21.2 x 21.2 x 1.1 mm

重量: 6.4 g

製造地: 巴黎鑄幣廠

來源: 福君錢幣 2016

這是一枚公元1859年,由巴黎鑄幣廠鑄造,法蘭西銀行發行的20法郎金幣。

金幣的正面是拿破崙三世的肖像,面朝右。周圍環繞著法文「NAPOLEON III EMPEREUR」,即「拿破崙三世皇帝」。下方「BARRE」與其右方的船錨符號,為時任巴黎鑄幣廠首席雕刻師德西雷-阿爾貝·巴雷(Désiré-Albert Barre)的署名與標記。「BARRE」左方伸出拇指與食指的手,則是巴黎鑄幣局局長夏爾-路易·迪里克斯(Charles-Louis Dierickx)的標記,法郎的現代化,重組與擴張正是在他任內完成。

金幣的背面中央為「20 FRANCS 1860」,標示了幣值與發行年。以橄欖葉枝環繞,表示和平與繁榮。外圈環繞法文「EMPIRE FRANCAIS」,即「法蘭西帝國」。下方的「A」是巴黎鑄幣廠的標記。

金幣的側面為法文「★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIEU ★ PROTEGE ★ LA ★ FRANCE」,即「上帝保佑法國」。

公元1859年,法蘭西第二帝國國勢達到鼎盛。在民選皇帝拿破崙三世治下,巴黎進行大規模的現代化改造。此外,法國也積極興築鐵路、發展工業與貿易。公元1859年,更與英國簽訂通商條約,推動自由貿易。

19世紀中葉,由於拿破崙戰爭對公制單位與十進制的推廣,加以國際事件造成的幣值動盪,逐漸有國家加入法郎體系。公元1865年的拉丁貨幣同盟,更是使法郎成為國際通用貨幣的雛形,法郎在歐陸和地中海區域的影響力進一步擴增。

公元1959年,挾帶克里米亞戰爭後的勝勢,法蘭西帝國在第二次義大利獨立戰爭中,協助薩丁尼亞王國擊敗奧地利,獲得倫巴第地區,促成了日後義大利的統一。在當時,這一戰爭鞏固了法國在歐洲的影響力。與此同時,法國在北非地區也不斷擴張,並嘗試出兵交趾支那與墨西哥,再建殖民帝國。

但法蘭西帝國的盛世圖景,早已蘊含了傾覆的危機。自由貿易傷害國內的受保護產業,保守派抗議蜂起。拉丁貨幣同盟與義大利戰爭引起普魯士的警惕,加劇普法之間的競爭與敵意。公元1959年,拿破崙三世於干涉義大利後歸國大赦政治犯,並一改即位之初對異議者的彈壓政策,逐漸放寬言論審查,以分化反對派。軟硬兼施之下,公元1870年的大選中,波拿巴主義者仍然勝選。但也就在同年,在色當慘敗於普魯士軍隊後,法蘭西的最後一位君主拿破崙三世被俘,帝國風流雲散。

類似/相同物件 請看:

法國 卡納瓦雷博物館 Musée Carnavalet

https://www.parismuseescollections.paris.fr/fr/musee-carnavalet/oeuvres/piece-de-20-francs-en-or-de-napoleon-iii-1859#infos-principales

德國 柏林國家數位博物館 museum-digital:staatliche museen zu berlin

https://smb.museum-digital.de/object/258968?recordlang=en&record=234924

更多相關訊息請參考:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Second-Empire

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Latin-Monetary-Union

Plessis, Alain. The Rise and Fall of the Second Empire, 1852–1871. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988.

Thomazi, A. La conquête de l’Indochine. Paris: Payot, 1934.

Einaudi, Luca. Money and Politics: European Monetary Unification and the International Gold Standard (1865-1873). Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001.

Decroix, Philippe. La saga d’une grande banque du Nord de la France, 1846-1934 Tome 1 – Verley, Decroix et Cie, 1846-1919. Paris: Éditions Christian, 1999

返回頂端