20-franc piece, year 12A, First Consul 1803 - 1804

This 20-franc piece was made in France during year 12 of the French Republic, by Nicholas-Pierre Tiolier. Minted from gold, this coin’s inherent qualities of substance, texture, weight, and color lend it both monetary and symbolic value. The process of die-striking would have been used to create the image of Bonaparte, forcing the soft metal to conform to the incised lines of the die. Tiolier's name is inscribed below the image. This was more than mere money; it was propaganda, linking Bonaparte to the wealth and stability of France. The coin is also a potent reminder of the labor involved in extracting and processing gold. From mining to minting, countless hands shaped this precious metal into a tool of commerce and a symbol of power. It challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft because it's a multiple, but also an object invested with huge cultural significance. Considering its material, making, and context is essential to understanding its full meaning.