What is the value of a 20 Francs Tunisie gold coin today?
20 Francs Tunisie price history
Intrinsic value based on the gold price
How much does a 20 Francs Tunisie gold coin weigh?
The 20 Francs Tunisie coin has a total weight of 6.4516 grams. This weight includes the coin's complete alloy.
Taking its purity of 900‰ (90.0%) into account, this coin contains exactly 5.8064 grams of pure gold.
What is the purity of a 20 Francs Tunisie gold coin?
The 20 Francs Tunisie coin has a purity of 900 thousandths, i.e. 90.0% fine gold.
This purity is characteristic of coins struck in Tunisia between 1891-1928. The rest of the alloy (10.0%) is generally composed of copper to strengthen the coin's durability.
Obverse
The obverse of the Tunisian 20 francs or coin showcases the right-facing profile of the reigning sovereign of the Husainid dynasty, the ruling authority under the French protectorate.
Sovereign typology and calligraphy
Evolution of effigies: Depending on the year, the portrait depicts the different Beys of Tunis: Ali III ibn Hussein (1890–1902), Muhammad IV al-Hadi (1902–1906), or Muhammad V an-Nasir (until 1928).
Inscriptions and dating: The field is adorned with legends in Arabic script indicating the name and title of the sovereign as well as the year of minting expressed according to the Hijri calendar.
Strike quality (Monnaie de Paris): Produced predominantly under the aegis of the Monnaie de Paris, these coins display sharp and precise relief on the early issues. Examining the sharpness of the facial features and the Arabic calligraphy is an excellent indicator for authentication and grading.
Reverse
The reverse of the 20 francs Tunisian coin adopts the standardised structure of the Latin Monetary Union, while incorporating specific inscriptions related to the institutional status of the Regency under French protectorate.
Heraldic and technical composition
Face value and ornaments: The indication of the value 20 FRANCS is framed by floral motifs or elegant geometric compositions.
Official inscriptions: The legend explicitly states the Régence de Tunis, recalling the political context of its issue.
Dating and mint marks: The year according to the Gregorian calendar appears alongside the mint letter A (Monnaie de Paris) as well as the engraver's marks (cornucopia or other official punchmarks).
Edge and standardisation: The edge is strictly reeded, in full conformity with the security and exchange requirements of the Latin monetary system.
Versions and mintage
20 Francs Tunisie
History of the 20 francs Tunisia gold coin
Issued under the French protectorate established in Tunisia in 1881, the 20 francs gold coin fits fully within the geopolitical and economic framework of the Latin Monetary Union (LMU), adopting the rigorous metrological standards of the institution founded in 1865.
Technical specifications and Husainid sovereigns
LMU-compliant metrology: Gross weight of 6.45 grams with a fineness of 900 thousandths (gold 90%, copper 10%), guaranteeing an exact fine gold content of 5.805 grams. Standard diameter of 21 millimetres.
Dynastic series: Struck principally at the Monnaie de Paris from 1891 to 1928, it was issued across the successive reigns of the Husainid beys: Ali III (1890–1902), Muhammad IV al-Hadi (1902–1906), and Muhammad V an-Nasir (until 1928).
Monetary status: Although not legal tender in metropolitan France, its strict weight conformity ensured wide acceptance and natural fungibility throughout the Mediterranean basin.
Price evolution of the 20 francs Tunisia gold coin over the past twenty years (2005 to 2026)
Sharing the same fine gold mass as a French Napoléon 20 francs or a Swiss Vreneli, the intrinsic value of the 20 francs Tunisia follows directly the fluctuations of the spot price of gold.
Pricing dynamics and numismatic premium
Upward trend over two decades: In the wake of gold (which rose from ~$400 in 2005 to historic highs beyond $2,000 and then $3,000), the value of the coin has been multiplied by four to five.
The scarcity premium: Unlike the common Napoléon produced in hundreds of millions of examples, the low Tunisian mintage figures give these coins a more pronounced potential numismatic premium on short series or rare dates.
Investor arbitrage: While this premium appeals to collectors, it is a factor requiring vigilance for the pure investor, as it can complicate resale compared to a mass-circulation coin.
Why invest in the 20 francs Tunisia gold coin?
The 20 francs Tunisia gold coin offers a fascinating hybrid profile between standardised investment gold and numismatic collecting.
Strategic advantages and points of vigilance
Granularity and taxation: Its mass of 6.45 g provides ideal wealth fractioning. In France, it benefits from the investment gold tax regime (flat-rate tax on precious metals or the option for the actual capital gains regime).
Limited liquidity: Its secondary market is narrower than that of the classic Napoléon 20F; resale is preferentially carried out through specialist dealers.
Rigorous authentication: Given its status and relative scarcity, careful verification (weight to the tenth of a milligram, dimensions, density test or ultrasound) is imperative to rule out any risk of counterfeits.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the 20 Francs Tunisie gold coin linked to the French monetary system?
Struck under the French protectorate in Tunisia (from 1891 to 1904), this coin was created to align exactly with the standards of the Latin Monetary Union.
Although issued for Tunisian territory under the authority of the Bey of Tunis, the coin has a strict equivalence with the French 20 Francs Napoléon in terms of gold fineness and legal value at the time.
How to recognize a 20 Francs Tunisie gold coin compared to a classic Napoléon?
The design is unique and very distinctive:
On the obverse: The text is written in Arabic with the official calligraphy of the Bey of Tunis (the Tughra) surrounded by olive branches.
On the reverse: The face value "20 Francs" is inscribed in French, accompanied by the date in the Christian calendar (e.g.: 1892) and the equivalent date in the Hijri calendar (e.g.: 1309). The edge bears the raised engraving "Dieu protège la France".
Are there other Tunisian face values in gold on this same model?
Yes. In addition to the 20 Francs denomination, the Monnaie de Paris also struck for Tunisia coins of 10 Francs, 15 Francs, 25 Francs and 100 Francs Or.
However, the 20 Francs coin remains by far the most widespread and most accessible for investors and collectors of investment gold.
What is the distinctive feature of the 20 Francs Tunisia on the investment gold market?
Its overall mintages are significantly lower than those of the Napoléon or the 20 francs Marianne Coq (only a few tens of thousands of examples depending on the year, compared to millions for metropolitan coins).
This gives it a dual appeal: it benefits from the VAT exemption specific to investment gold while retaining a historical and numismatic attraction that can generate a higher premium during periods of strong demand.
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