French Angel Coin 1875

[kb242]

Hello All,

I have a French 1875 50 Franc "Angel Coin". I'm not sure if it is real or a replica. How can you tell the difference? Any info is appreciated.

Thanks, kb

 

[Mackaydon]

KB: Welcome to Treasure Net !!
A picture of both sides would help.

 

[lazooro]

and precise weight..

 

[kb242]

hello,

Thanks for the welcome. Unfortunately I do not have a scale to weigh the coin. The only info I can add to this is my coin has edge lettering on the rim.
I have looked all over the net looking for information. From what I have found, the real 1875 50 Franc (Angel Coin) and the replica look exactly alike.
The replicas are sold on amazon and from the picture, the edge looks ridged like a Washington quarter. My edge lettering says dieu proteg La France and has raised stars on it. However, I am not convinced that this coin is the real thing.

 

[Mackaydon]

The edge should read: "Dieu protège la France"--with an 'e' at the end of protege.
Recheck the 'coin' for that word's spelling.

 

[kb242]

Thanks Mackaydon,

I had my son look at it with a magnifying glass. DIEU (then a star) PROTEGE (star) LA (star) FRANCE and then followed by 5 stars. Do the replicas have this ?

 

[kb242]

sorry my mistake it is 20 Franc not 50

 

[Mackaydon]

If real, the coin will contain 0.1867 oz. pure gold, weigh 6.45 grams and look like this:
http://www.amergold.com/vault/pageview.php?coin=France_20_Franc_BU_Angel

 

[kb242]

yes that is my coin except the year is 1875. My confusion lies with the replicas. They look exactly the same. Would a replica have the edge lettering and stars?

 

[Mackaydon]

Have it tested for weight and purity; that should just about nail it.

 

[kb242]

Thanks Mackaydon,

I will bring it somewhere hopefully this week. Thanks for helping me.

 

[kb242]

Just an update on this coin and special thanks for Mackaydon for answering my post. I had the coin weighed and it is indeed genuine. My husband found it going to work in a parking lot!!! I collect coins so when he found it, he put it in his pocket and when he returned home from work he said "Here you go, I found this. I don't know if it is worth anything" When I first looked at it I noticed the gold tone but not knowing much about foreign coins that didn't mean much ( my daughter has a silver dollar from 1994 that is gold toned). Then I saw the date and I thought, wow I don't think they toned coins way back then.
I went online to research the coin, knowing I had something. My confusion lied with the history of this coin and that is was replicated. After all, what are the odds of finding something like this in a parking lot of all things. It's worth about $325.00

In another interesting note on my day off last week, out of boredom I decided to go through my daughter's bucket of change. I figured at best I would find a couple of wheat pennies if I was lucky. I found two wheats, one 1964 dime and a silver war nickel. Not bad for someone who does not yet have a metal detector.

 

[Mackaydon]

kb,
Excellent finds!
Now you're ripe to buy a metal detector and go for the gold (and silver) again.
Don.......