20 Francs Tunisia Gold Coin | Mixed Years

20 Francs, Tunisia

Tunisia adopted the franc in 1891 under the French protectorate, and its gold coins were struck to exactly the same standard as the French ones: 6.45 g gross, 900 fine, 5.81 g of pure gold, 21 mm across.

All of them were struck at the Monnaie de Paris, not in Tunis, which is why they carry the Paris mintmark A.

Specifications

A coin with no portrait

Both sides are inscriptional. One carries an Arabic legend with the name of the reigning Bey, the denomination and the Hijri date within an ornamented border; the other carries TUNISIE, 20 FRANCS, the Gregorian date and the mintmark A inside a decorated circle. There is no effigy, following Islamic practice.

The Ali III and Muhammad IV coins have an unusual edge of alternating crescents and stars rather than plain reeding.

Which dates are actually bullion

Gold 20 francs were struck for Tunisia from 1891 to 1928, but only the years to 1904 were produced in commercial quantity. From 1905 onward the mintages fall to a few dozen pieces a year, so those dates are rarities rather than bullion. The trade reflects this: the coin is normally sold as a random date from 1891 to 1904.

If a Tunisian 20 francs dated in the 1910s or 1920s is offered at a bullion price, something is wrong with the listing or with the coin.

Dual dating as an authenticity check

Every coin carries a Hijri date on the Arabic side and a Gregorian date on the French side. The two have to correspond. Mismatched dates are a quick way to spot a fabrication.

The Latin Monetary Union standard

The 20 franc standard was fixed by the French franc germinal of 1803 and internationalised by the Latin Monetary Union convention of 1865: 6.45161 g gross, 900 fine, 5.806 g of pure gold, 21 mm. France, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland and Greece struck to it as members; Spain, Romania, Austria-Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Finland and Tunisia struck to it without joining.

That is why a French Napoleon, an Italian marengo, a Swiss Vreneli of 20 francs and a Tunisian 20 francs all hold the same gold. For bullion purposes they are interchangeable.

VAT and UK capital gains tax

HMRC treats a coin minted after 1800 as bullion gold if it is at least 900 thousandths fine, is or has been legal tender in its country of origin, and normally sells at no more than 180 per cent of the open market value of its gold (VAT Notice 701/21A). The Tunisian 20 Francs is 900 fine, was legal tender in Tunisia and is sold close to the gold price, so it meets all three tests.

Capital gains tax is a separate matter. The UK exemption follows sterling legal tender, so it covers Sovereigns and Britannias but not a Tunisian coin. This is a statement of the published rule, not tax advice — your own position depends on your circumstances.

Questions buyers ask

Why was it struck in Paris? Because Tunisia was a French protectorate and its coinage was produced by the French mint.

Which date will I receive? A mixed date from the commercial range, 1891 to 1904.

Is it the same gold as a Napoleon? Yes, the same 5.81 g at 900 fineness.

Why are there two dates on it? One is Hijri, one is Gregorian. They should correspond.

Authenticity checked at GoldInvest24 before dispatch. Other sizes are on the historic gold coins page. Live quotes on the precious metals prices page.