French Tunisia 20 Franc 1897 Gold Coin minted in Paris RARE .1867oz pure gold coin minted 12 years 1891-1902 Start Price USD 300.00 Current Price USD 300.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Sunday, November 09, 2008 End Time Sunday, November 30, 2008 Location Heart of Dixie See more about 'French Tunisia 20 Franc 1897 Gold Coin minted in Paris' Description Tunisia 20 franc gold coinMinted 1891-1902, This is the TYPE NO. 5, Total mintage for 1897 was 164,000 coin.Fineness: .900Actual Gold Content: .1867 troy ounce  Tunisian francفرنك تونسي (Arabic) French inscriptions on one side , Arabic on the other Total Weight 6.4516 grams , .900 gold fineness, .1867 ounce pure gold A = Paris Mint. Both coins are minted at the Paris, France Mint. Tunisia, located on the southern shore of the Mediterranean Sea just south and southwest of the islands of Sardinia and Sicily, was settled in the 12th century B.C., the center of the Carthaginian Empire. Following the destruction of Carthage, it passed under control of the Roman Empire until passing in turn to Arab control in 648, enduring to the Turkish invasion in 1570. Economic bankruptcy opened the door to the establishment of a French protectorate in 1881, leading eventually to autonomy and national independence in 1956. Tunisia has a long and rich history. Founded by the Phoenicians over 3,000 years ago, in ancient times it was famous for its important city of Carthage, which was destroyed by the Romans in 146 B.C. The Romans had destroyed Carthage because of its ability to recover and survive, it was therefore ironic that after Carthage had been rebuilt under the Romans, it continued to flourish after the Roman Empire declined. It was briefly overrun by the Vandals from 459 to 533, and then by the Arabs in 648 until the Turkish invasion of 1570. Under the Turks, its main revenue came from piracy until 1819, when an international coalition threatened reprisals, after which its economy declined, and it eventually went bankrupt, leading to it becoming a French protectorate in 1881. By 1955, Tunisian nationalism had grown, and obliged the French to grant internal autonomy, and full independence followed the next year. In 1957, Tunisia abolished its monarch and became a republic. In ancient times, the coins of Carthage belonged to the Greek coin series, later Roman. In more recent times, Tunisian coins were denominated in sultani and half sultani, later in piastres, changing to francs under the French. From the beginning of the Republic, they are denominated in dinars. Political sketch Formerly Tunis. Independent from France on 20 March 1956. Tunisia's modern history may be said to begin in the 1800s. It was an Ottoman territory, but as Ottoman power declined, France, Italy , and the United Kingdom all coveted it. For a while their conflicting interests helped Tunisia remain autonomous, but in 1881, the British occupied Cyprus and in return allowed the French to make Tunisia a protectorate. The beys (rulers) of Tunisia became figureheads. In the early 1900s Tunisians began to demand more participation in government. During the Second World War, Tunisia was a battleground in the North African campaign of German and Italian forces against British and U.S. forces. Unlike French colonies south of the Sahara, Tunisia did not join the French Union after the war. Tunisia became independent from France on 20 March 1956. Its first president Habib Bourgiba, ruled initially as a fairly benevolent despot. Economic development proceeded and some social reforms occurred, particularly improving the status of women. Over time dissatisfaction with Bourgiba grew, and he was removed from office in 1987. His successor, Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, is still in power today (2005). Ben Ali has gradually reduced government involvement in the economy and taken some steps toward more democratic government, although Tunisia remains an autocracy. Tunisia has a diversified economy and its exports include manufactures, mining, and agricultural products. Wars since 1500 Spanish Conquests in North Africa, 1505-1511; Second World War in North Africa, 1942-1943 (United Kingdom, United States, and Free French forces against Germany, Italy, and Vichy French forces). Convertibility The French franc zone: When the First World War began, France imposed a moratorium of payments on all negotiable instruments starting 1 August 1914. The moratorium was subsequently extended by decrees until 1 March 1915. The central bank, the Bank of France, abandoned the gold standard on 5 August 1914, although no official prohibition on exporting gold existed until by a decree of 3 July 1915, affirmed by a law of 15 November 1915. A decree of 2 April 1918 prohibited capital exports without authorization. A law of 25 June 1928 officially restored the gold standard and repealed exchange controls. When the French franc was an object of currency speculation , a law of 13 August 1936 imposed extensive exchange controls, supplementing some lesser measures that had been implemented in 1935. France imposed exchange controls on 9 September 1939 by a decree of that date, soon after the Second World War broke out. On 20 May 1940, capital controls within the franc zone were greatly relaxed by a French decree of that date. Exchanges between France and its African colonies were cut off from the time of the Allied invasion of French Morocco and Algeria in November 1942 to about September 1944, by which time the Allies had liberated Paris and the main French port cities. Exchange controls within the franc zone were not removed until 6 June 1946. Afterwards, French colonial francs became convertible both for current- and capital-account transactions within the French franc zone (France, Monaco, and French possessions, including countries using the CFA franc). Outside the French franc zone it became convertible for current-account transactions when France resumed current-account convertibility, but it was not convertible for capital-account transactions. France had multiple exchange rates from 26 January 1948 until 17 October 1948, and a dual exchange rate from 18 October 1948 to 29 September 1949. On 20 September 1949 it devalued the French franc and unified the exchange rate, taking advantage of the lead offered by the United Kingdom, which had devalued the pound sterling on 18 September 1949.   Shipping in the USA is by Priority Mail Fully Insured and is FREE. International buyers please email for shipping cost. I will accept a US Postal Money Order or a cashiers check on a bank within the USA. International bidder can send a cashiers check/official bank check on a International bank with a US Associate Bank. International Bank Wires accept with an additonal fee of $17.00. I will also accept cash in Registered Mail. I will also accept a W.U. Money Order. I will only ship to countries where it is legal to import gold coins. Please view my eBay store for more great items. Thank you. Place a Bid!