France - Napoleon (Consul)

In November 1799, Napoleon was elected as First Consul and then he was declared Consul for life in August 1802. Shortly after his first coins were minted.

Coinage of this period follows the French Republican calendar, which is defined starting 22 September 1792 (the day after the First French Republic was declared) as the beginning of the first year (AN 1). French coinage used the latin numerals (i.e., 8, 9, 10), but for the coinage in year 11, Napoleon directed the mint to use the roman numeral “XI” instead. He was concerned that AN 11 resembled AN II, the year of the Reign of Terror and the association would make for inauspicious symbolism for his first coins.

The coinage standard used in Napoleon’s first French coins was formalized in April 1803. Thus, year ANXI (11) coins were minted over about five months.

  
    Year
    Period
  
    ANXI (11)
    April 1803 - 23 Sept 1803
  
    AN12
    24 Sept 1803 - 23 Sept 1804

Year	Period
ANXI (11)	April 1803 - 23 Sept 1803
AN12	24 Sept 1803 - 23 Sept 1804

Circulation Coins

Underlined text links to Numista

Certain images are clickable for more detail

40 Francs

1802-1803 (ANXI - AN12)

20 Francs

1802-1803 (ANXI - AN12)

(Image: Dorotheum Nov 2019)

< 20 Francs Consul - Graded Population >

  
    Year 
(PCGS/NGC)
    MS61
    MS62
    MS63
    MS64
    MS65
    MS66
    MS67
    Total
  

    AN IX
    - / 1
    1 / 1 
    2 / 1
    - / -
    1 / -
    - / -
    - / -
    4 / 3
  

    AN 12
    6 / 7
    8 / 10
    3* / 3*
    - / 1
    - / -
    - / -
    - / -
    18 / 25
  

    Total
    6 / 7
    9 /11
    6 / 4
    0 / 1
    1 / -
    - / -
    - / 
    22 / 28
  

Year (PCGS/NGC)	MS61	MS62	MS63	MS64	MS65	MS66	MS67	Total
AN IX	- / 1	1 / 1	2 / 1	- / -	1 / -	- / -	- / -	4 / 3
AN 12	6 / 7	8 / 10	3* / 3*	- / 1	- / -	- / -	- / -	18 / 25
Total	6 / 7	9 /11	6 / 4	0 / 1	1 / -	- / -	- /	22 / 28

Note*: One PCGS MS63 AN12 is an Emperor mis-slabbed as Consul. One NGC MS63 crossed over to PCGS MS63 without being removed from the population.

Compiled as of August 2025

< 20 Francs AN XI - Finest Examples >

Napoleon I’s first coin (AN XI) had a limited mintage of 58,262 and is by far the lowest mintage of any of his coin types. The coins were minted between April 1803 (declaration of the standard) and September 1803 (end of AN XI).

Only six are graded mint state (PCGS SP65+, MS63 x2; NGC MS63 x1, MS62 x1, MS61 x1).

Originally Compiled 4 November 2024

PCGS SP65+ Cameo

(Image: Stacks Aug 2024)

PCGS MS63

(Image: Stacks Aug 2025 / PCGS)

NGC MS63

(Image: NGC / Vinchon Dec 2023)

PCGS MS63

(Image: Unknown #2 of 2)

PCGS MS62
(Newly added 2025)

(Image: Farrando Apr 2025)

NGC MS62

(Image: MDC Oct 2020, Dorotheum Nov 2019)

NGC MS61

(Image: Numisor Oct 2022)

Ungraded “SPL”

(Image: Varesi Apr 2013)

Ungraded “EF62”

(Image: cgb Dec 2002)

< 20 Francs AN 12 - Finest Examples >

With a mintage of 988,244, the Premier Consul AN12 is one of the less common Napoleon I types.

It is extremely rare in high grades. There are 40 examples graded in mint state (16 in PCGS and 24 in NGC, including at least one appearing in both). The MS60-MS61s are not included below.

[Update mid-2025: 2x added to PCGS (MS62), 1x added to NGC (MS63)]

Originally Compiled 4 November 2024 (with updates)