Coin Pièce France 20 francs Silver 1937 A Paris

The 20 Francs Turin is a French coin issued in 1937 under the Third Republic. It takes its name from the engraver Joseph Turin, who designed its distinctive motifs. This series, produced between 1929 and 1939, represents one of the most iconic achievements of French numismatics during the interwar period.

The obverse of the coin features the bust of a woman wearing a Phrygian cap, symbolising the French Republic, accompanied by the inscription LIBERTÉ ÉGALITÉ FRATERNITÉ. The reverse displays the face value of 20 FRANCS framed by ornamental motifs, along with the inscription RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE and the year of minting.

This coin was struck at the Paris Mint, identifiable by the A mint mark, with a mintage of 1,189,205 examples for the year 1937. It is composed of silver with a fineness of 680 thousandths, corresponding to an alloy containing 68% pure silver. It weighs 20 grams with a diameter of 35 millimetres, giving it a satisfying presence in the hand.

The face value of this coin was 20 francs, making it a significant denomination in the French monetary system of the time. The economic context of the 1930s, marked by the devaluation of the franc and political tensions, made the production of this series particularly important in meeting the needs of monetary circulation. The 680 thousandths silver composition results precisely from the metallurgical adjustments imposed by the successive monetary reforms of this period, in particular the devaluations that altered the fineness of the alloys used compared to previous issues.