This piece belongs to a series commissioned by the Monnaie de Paris in preparation for the 1989 bicentennial of the French Revolution — the "Projet 1983" designation marking it as an early design study struck six years before the commemorative program officially launched. France's bicentennial planning was an unusually protracted government effort, with the Mitterrand administration investing heavily in prestige numismatic issues as part of broader cultural programming. The .9999 fineness is notable; standard French gold issues of the period typically ran at .920.
This piece belongs to a series commissioned by the Monnaie de Paris in preparation for the 1989 bicentennial of the French Revolution — the "Projet 1983" designation marking it as an early design study struck six years before the commemorative program officially launched. France's bicentennial planning was an unusually protracted government effort, with the Mitterrand administration investing heavily in prestige numismatic issues as part of broader cultural programming. The .9999 fineness is notable; standard French gold issues of the period typically ran at .920.