Which is the "real" coin? 1 1

[Henri Charriere]

The NGC Set Registry in its infinite wisdom and to its everlasting credit, boasts the largest collection of French 20-francs gold roosters assembled anywhere on this planet.  Scores of members are active participants.

The series, as NGC has chosen to define and maintain it from its inception, is comprised of sixteen (16) coins dated 1899-1914, with those dated 1899-1906, commonly referred to informally as "originals," and those dated 1907-1914, commonly referred to informally as "restrikes," or "refrappes," in French. 

According to one disgruntled non-collector given to intemperate outbursts, only the gold roosters dated 1899-1906 are "real" coins.  It is not clear how he regards those dated 1907-1914 despite the fact every authentic gold rooster is minted to exacting specifications including size, weight, width, composition: 90% gold and 10% copper, all rendered with the portrait of Marianne on the obverse and Rooster on the reverse.  The earlier ones have ornamental edge lettering translated in English to "God Protect France" which distinguish them from the later ones which feature ornamental edge lettering translated in English to "Liberty Equality Brotherhood."

My question posed to all members and, more particularly, Set Registrants of this series, who in the five years I have been a member, have been notoriously mute on every aspect of this subject and their individual endeavors, is simple:  No one questions the authenticity of any coin found to be genuine.  However, do you regard any coin you have paid hundreds of dollars for as other than "real," and if so, what?  Feel free to expound on this to your heart's content.

[J P M]

IMO...If the government ordered the 1907-1914 they are real restrikes, not copies from Joe's garage.

[VKurtB]

All are “real coins”, as are nearly 250 years of Austrian Maria Theresa thalers, struck more or less continuously since 1780. Contemporary dating on coins is merely a tradition, not a requirement. Not worldwide at least. Even the New England pre-federal coinage bears the date of AUTHORIZATION to be struck, not the date of striking.

Edited July 27 by VKurtB

[RWB]

I don't know if "1907-1914" roosters were struck in those years, or when the pieces in question were made.

The term "restrike" implies that coins were made during the dates in question, and that at some later year, original hubs/dies were used to make more coins but without changing the date or design.

Conventional thinking suggests that coins dated 1899-1906 need no special designation UNLESS they were restruck at a later time.

Coins dated 1907-1914 that were struck in those years should be called "Originals," and any made in later years from original hubs/dies should be called "Restrikes." If pieces dated 1907-1914 were made in later years from newly produced hubs/dies, AND coins were actually made with those dates in those years, then they should be called "Copies."