What is the value of a 20 Francs TURIN silver coin today?
20 Francs TURIN price history
Intrinsic value based on the silver price
How much does a 20 Francs TURIN silver coin weigh?
The 20 Francs TURIN coin has a total weight of 20.0000 grams. This weight includes the coin's complete alloy.
Taking its purity of 680‰ (68.0%) into account, this coin contains exactly 13.6000 grams of pure silver.
What is the purity of a 20 Francs TURIN silver coin?
The 20 Francs TURIN coin has a purity of 680 thousandths, i.e. 68.0% fine silver.
This purity is characteristic of coins struck in France between 1929-1939. The rest of the alloy (32.0%) is generally composed of copper to strengthen the coin's durability.
Obverse
The obverse features the right profile of a Republic wearing a Phrygian cap wreathed with an olive crown, a masterpiece of Art Deco art signed by the engraver Pierre Turin (signature P.TURIN below the neck).
Composition and style
Inscriptions: The legend RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE encircles the profile.
Artistic style: Clean, geometric lines characteristic of the Art Deco movement of the interwar period.
Uniformity: Very consistent production with no major engraving variants throughout the entire period of issue.
Reverse
The reverse is designed in a refined Art Deco style. The face value 20 FRANCS and the year are framed by two vertical wheat ears, joined at the base by a ribbon.
Inscriptions and engraving characteristics
Inscriptions: The face value at the centre, followed by the date and the motto LIBERTÉ ÉGALITÉ FRATERNITÉ.
Mint marks: The cornucopia (Monnaie de Paris) and the Chief Engraver's symbol flank the year or the face value depending on the year.
Numismatic varieties: Variants identified on the obverse cap (long or short branches) as well as on the typographic layout of certain dates (notably 1933).
Versions and mintage
20 Francs TURIN
History of the 20 Francs Turin Silver Coin
Struck mainly from 1929 to 1939, the 20 Francs Turin was born in the context of the monetary stabilisation carried out by Raymond Poincaré. Created by the sculptor Pierre Turin, it belongs to the Art Déco style and marks the return of large silver coins to general circulation.
Technical characteristics and specificities
Composition: Silver at 680 ‰ (billon silver standard).
Silver content: Contains 6.8 g of pure silver for a total weight of 10 g and a diameter of 28 mm.
Volumes and mintages: High mintage figures ensure wide availability for common dates, while dates from the end of the period (e.g. 1936, 1939) are significantly rarer and more sought after.
Price history and valuation (2005 – 2026)
The value of the coin combines a metal base and a variable collector's premium:
Metal value (Spot): Varies according to the 6.8 g of fine silver (peaks at the 2011 high of $50/oz and the post-2020 rebound).
Numismatic premiums: Very low on worn common dates, but significant on rare key dates and in higher grades (EF/AU/MS).
Why invest in the 20 Francs Turin Silver?
It is an attractive supplementary savings product thanks to its small size (fractional) and its very high recognition on the French market.
Strengths and points to watch
Fractional format: Allows physical silver to be accumulated in small, very accessible units (less than 7 g of fine silver per coin).
Liquidity in France: Immediately recognised by all French-speaking dealers and buyers.
Value calculation: Be aware of the 680 ‰ fineness (different from the 900 ‰ or 999 ‰ standard), which requires careful calculation of the actual fine silver content.
Condition: Wear from circulation greatly reduces numismatic interest; higher grades should be selected with care.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the 20 Francs Turin in silver and not in gold like the Napoléon?
Unlike the 20 Francs Napoléon or 20 Francs Marianne which were gold investment coins, the 20 Francs Turin is a fiat currency in silver issued under the Third Republic (between 1929 and 1939).
It was created by the engraver Pierre Turin to replace the paper money of the time and restore confidence after the devaluation of the Franc Germinal (introduction of the Franc Poincaré).
What is the difference between the 20 Francs Turin and the 10 Francs Turin?
These two coins share exactly the same Art Deco design (the head of the Republic wearing a Phrygian cap and surrounded by a laurel wreath on the obverse, two wheat ears on the reverse).
The difference lies in their size, weight and mintage. The 20 Francs version is larger and contains twice as much pure silver as the 10 Francs TURIN module.
Why do certain vintages of the 20 Francs Turin have a very high collector's value?
Although common dates (such as 1929, 1933 or 1934) are very accessible and trade primarily based on their silver metal weight value, certain dates from the end of the series are extremely rare.
This is the case of the 20 Francs Turin 1936, produced in very few examples or melted down at the beginning of the war, which can reach very high prices among numismatic collectors depending on its condition.
Is the 20 Francs Turin suitable for investing in physical silver?
Yes, it is an excellent coin for dividing a silver investment in France.
Just like the 10F Hercule or 50F Hercule coins, the 20 Francs Turin enjoys very strong recognition on the French market. Its format makes it possible to accumulate physical silver in the form of small historical denominations that are very easy to trade, with a generally very low premium relative to the silver spot price.
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