In 1795, the French Republic officially introduced the Franc as its national currency, a decimal unit consisting of 100 centimes . France, like many European nations, transitioned from its traditional currency to the Euro (EUR) in 2002.
- Franc as a Decimal Currency: The Franc, established during the French Revolution, was divided into 10 décimes (tenths) and 100 centimes (hundredths).
- Early Coinage Designs: Initially, the Republic minted copper coins in denominations like 1 centime, 5 centimes, 1 décime, and 2 décimes, featuring designs by Augustin Dupré. Silver francs were also struck in decimal form during the Consulate period (1799–1804).
- Iconic Imagery: Many French Republic coins feature symbolic imagery, such as the “Hercules group” (depicting Hercules protecting Liberty and Equality) or the “Seed-Sowing Lady Libertine”.
- Evolution of Coinage: Over the years, the types and compositions of French Republic coins changed. For example, after World War II, inflation led to the withdrawal of denominations below 1 franc, and copper-nickel and aluminum-bronze coins were introduced for larger denominations.
- Monnaie de Paris: France boasts one of the oldest mints in the world, the Monnaie de Paris, which has produced coins since 864.
- Collectibility: French Republic coins, particularly older or rare issues, are sought after by collectors. Certain denominations and mint years hold particular value, including those with minting errors.
Currently, the official currency of France is the Euro. Euro coins from France showcase distinct national designs. There are two series of French Euro coin designs for the €1 and €2 coins:
- First Series: Designed by Joaquin Jimenez, this series features a tree symbolizing life, continuity, and growth, encircled by the French motto “Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité” (Liberty, equality, fraternity).
- Second Series: Introduced in 2022, this design depicts oak and olive branches forming the tree of life, symbolizing strength, solidity, and peace, also within a hexagon and accompanied by the national motto.
In addition to Euro coins, various collectible French coins featuring historical figures, events, and symbols remain available for purchase, reflecting France’s rich numismatic heritage.
What does the Republique Francaise coin mean?
Great question! The obverse side, common to both regions, included the words Republique Française ( lit. ‘ French Republic ‘) and depicted an allegorical representation of Minerva the goddess of wisdom on the 1, 2, and 5 franc coins, or Marianne, symbol of the French Republic, on the higher denominations.
How much is a 1 franc coin worth in US dollars?
From my experience, The current value of 1 FRN is $0.0032 USD.
What is the currency of Republique Francaise?
Great question! The French franc (F) was the national currency of France prior to France’s adoption of the euro (EUR) in January 2002. Prior to its replacement by the EUR, the franc was administered by the Bank of France and was comprised of 100 subunits, or ‘centimes. ‘