Editing Napoléon (coin) (section)

== Overview ==
{{Css Image Crop|Image = France 1807-A 40 Francs.jpg|bSize = 300|cWidth = 300|cHeight = 155|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0|Location = right|Description = {{center|A 40-franc Napoléon from 1807}}}}
The coins were originally minted in two denominations, 20 and 40 [[franc]]s for Napoléon Bonaparte. The 40-franc gold piece did not become popular.<ref>Requard, G., The Currency of France, Selections from the Numismatist, Modern Foreign Currency, Whitman Publishing Company, Racine, Wis., 1961, pp. 155–61 at p. 158.</ref> The 20 franc coins are 21&nbsp;mm in diameter (about the size of a U.S. five-cent piece or a Swiss 20 Rappen coin), weigh 6.45 grams (gross weight) and; at 90% pure, contain {{convert|0.1867|ozt|g|3}} of pure gold. The 40 franc coins are 26&nbsp;mm in diameter, weigh 12.90 grams (gross weight) and; are 90% pure gold.

They were issued during the reign of [[Napoleon I]] and feature his portrait, sometimes bare headed and other times wearing a [[laurel wreath]] (the [[ancient Roman]] symbol of imperial or military glory) and, depending upon the political status of France, the words on the front: either ''Bonaparte – Premier Consul'' ([[First Consul]]) or ''Napoléon Empereur'' (emperor).  On the back: the legends read either "RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE" ([[French Republic]]) or after 1809, "EMPIRE FRANÇAIS" ([[First French Empire|French Empire]]). There was even a 20 and 40 Lire Napoleon minted under the auspices of the [[Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic)|Kingdom of Italy]], a [[client state]].   "Bonaparte First Consul" pieces of similar size, weight and fineness were struck at the Turin Mint. The obverse (''L'Italie Délivrée à Marengo]'') recounts that Italy was liberated<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cgb.fr/italie-republique-subalpine-20-francs-gaule-subalpine-eridania-allegorie-de-litalie-avec-mention-litalie-delivree-a-marengo-1802-an-10-turin-tb-,fwo_153910,a.html|title=ITALIE - RÉPUBLIQUE SUBALPINE 20 Francs Gaule Subalpine - Eridania, allégorie de l'Italie avec mention "L'Italie délivrée à Marengo" 1802 (an 10) Turin fwo_153910 Monde|website=www.cgb.fr}}</ref> from Austria by Bonaparte at [[Battle of Marengo|Marengo]], [[Piedmont]] on 14 June 1800, whereat the French General [[Louis Desaix]] was killed. The reverse indicates the extent liberated lands, known as Gaul Subalpine, Eridania or Northern Italy.  The type was created pursuant to the decree of the Gaul Subalpine government established after the Battle of Marengo and which existed from 16 June 1800, through 11 September 1802.<ref>Montenegro 2013, ''Manuale del collezionista di monete italiane con valutazione e gradi di rarità - 28a edizione''</ref>