Photo Credit: rarecoincollector
NGC Certified 1882 French 100 Franc Gold Coin
Buy It Now Price: $1,675 (price as of 2018; item no longer available)
Pros:
-This NGC certified 1882 French 100 franc gold coin, which was struck at the apogee of the Third Republic’s power and prestige, represents a compelling alternative investment.
-This French gold coin is massive. It has a diameter of 35 mm (1.38 inches) and contains nearly 1 troy ounce (0.9335 troy ounces or 29.03 grams) of pure gold. This is comparable in size and weight to a pre-1933 U.S. double eagle $20 gold coin!
-The obverse of this French 100 franc gold coin depicts the personification of Genius writing the French constitution while the reverse features the denomination and date within an elegant wreath of acorns and oak leaves. The back of the coin is also inscribed with the timeless motto of the French Republic: “Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité”, which translates as “Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood”.
-This 1882 French 100 franc gold coin is scarce, with a mintage of only 37,000. This is a very low mintage compared to similar contemporary gold coins, like the U.S. double eagle. For example, in 1904 alone the Philadelphia mint struck over 6 million gold double eagles; the San Francisco mint struck an additional 5 million specimens in that same year. The total mintage for the entire French 100 franc series from 1878 to 1914 is only around 418,000 examples, compared to over 100 million U.S. Liberty Head $20 gold pieces!
-This coin is certified AU-55 (About Uncirculated – with just a touch of wear on the highest points of the design) by NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation), a respected third-party grading service. You can be assured that the coin is genuine and as advertised.
-In spite of its rarity, this 1882 French 100 franc gold coin sports a premium over its melt value of only 38%! There is $1,213 worth of gold in the coin (with spot gold hovering around $1,300 a troy ounce), meaning that you are only paying a modest $460 for the considerable numismatic value of this impressive 136 year old coin. The low premium over its bullion value helps to limit your investment risk.
-This 1882 French 100 franc gold coin circulated during the height of France’s Belle Époque, a pre-World War I golden era where theater, music and the arts flourished. This coin even could have been used in the 1890 purchase of Vincent Van Gogh’s painting “Red Vineyard” for 400 francs – one of the few paintings the famous artist sold during his lifetime!
-In light of its low mintage, good condition and historical significance, I think this 1882 French 100 franc gold coin would make an excellent, low-risk investment at the asking price of $1,675.
Cons:
-It is possible to find certified French 100 franc gold coins in better, uncirculated condition. However, I actually prefer AU-55 or AU-58 specimens because they often have better eye appeal compared to the same coin in MS-60 or MS-61. Eye appeal is a primary consideration for rare coins and tends to drive their investment returns. If you want an uncirculated 100 franc coin with similar eye appeal to a good AU-55 or AU-58 example, you will need to step up to an MS-62 or better coin. These will cost an additional $400 to $1,000, depending on the exact date and condition.
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