When it was created in 1897, the 5 franc Semeuse coin was a great success. 
In fact, the French discovered in it the image of a peaceful and fertile Republic. The image of Marianne speaks to everyone, depicting a large part of France's history since the Revolution.  
 
The 5 franc Semeuse silver coin was created in 1897 by Oscar Roty and was immediately used for silver coins. It was then reused on coins during the changeover to the new franc, hence the creation of this coin. 
 
Sought after for its rarity and history, this silver coin embodies France's numismatic heritage, attracting enthusiasts from around the world.
 
Discover the characteristics and historical symbols of this emblematic silver coin in this article.

The 5 Francs Semeuse : between history and French symbolism

 
A monument to French numismatics and an iconic French coin, the 5 Francs Semeuse (1898-1920) is a coin known to all. Recognisable and very popular in France, it is one of the most sought-after silver bullion coins.
 
The type of sower was designed by Oscar Roty, a French sculptor and medallist, in 1897. The engraving of the sower was originally designed for a medal commissioned by the Ministry of Finance to create new coins. 
 
In the same way, the design of the sower was selected to appear on the new 5 franc silver coins : the 5 Francs Semeuses. These coins were the culmination of an economic and monetary reform sought by the government with the introduction of the new franc (or Pinay franc) in 1960. 

It was probably because the figure was so familiar to everyone that it was chosen to appear on the coins, the new Pinay francs in circulation from 1960. It has to be said that the arrival of the new Pinay francs was not very well received, given that one Pinay franc was equivalent to 100 old francs. In other words, the French feared for their savings and the value of the currency.

Against a backdrop of currency devaluation, the French were saving and hoarding heavily with the 5 franc semeuses. This was the last silver coin to really circulate in France, even though hoarding was a major phenomenon.
 
Note : the type and design of the sower were originally created by Roty for a medal originally designed for a Ministry of Agriculture competition. Roty called on several models to design the silhouette of the sower, which became iconic. Today, the sketches and preparatory drawings can be seen at the Oscar Roty Museum in the Loiret region of France. It wasn't just coins that featured the sower; the French also discovered her on their stamps from 1903. In a sense, she was part of everyone's daily life. The sower has a special destiny, is an emblem and is, according to the Musée d'Orsay, "the most widely distributed work of art in France".

Characteristics of this famous French coin

 
The Semeuse agent has a diameter of 28.98 millimetres and a weight of 12 grams. This weight includes two grams of copper, used to improve its strength and solidity, and 10 grams of silver.
 
What's more, the 5 franc Semeuse coin, as its name suggests, features one of the great symbols of France and the Republic : Marianne wearing the Phrygian cap. Marianne, so dear to our country, is depicted as a sower walking and sowing against the wind, with the rising sun behind her. Below her, at her feet, is the name of the engraver Oscar Roty.
 
On the reverse, the face value "5 FRANCS" is inscribed above a group of plants made up of olive branches, oak trees, wheat, etc. All these elements recall the agricultural nature of France, a country that was still very rural in the 1960s. Finally, there is the inscription of France's motto "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité" (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity) around the edge of the coin. 


 

As a result, the 5 franc Semeuse coin has a real value in terms of its precious metal content, namely silver. Today, at the time of writing, it sells for just over 7 euros per coin. These are not rare or collector coins, given that hundreds of millions of them were minted between 1959 and 1969. 

Nevertheless, there are a few Francs Semeuses that are rarer, notably the pre-series coins minted in 1959, of which only 4,000 were issued, making them numismatic collectors' items. The 5 Francs Semeuses, known as "test" coins, which are stamped or engraved, also have collector value because they are rarer than the classic ones.
 
The 5 franc Semeuse coin also has its own special characteristics. 

Since 1795, more than 1.2 billion 5 Francs Argent coins have been minted. Only the 5 Francs Semeuse coin has different characteristics to the other coins known as the 5 Francs Écu. The 5 Francs Semeuse coin weighs 12 grams and has a silver content of 835 thousandths, making it an excellent investment medium and good value for money when investing in silver metal. With its low unit price and high liquidity combined with its availability, it is the French coin per excellence for investing. It is considered a : 

• Highly liquid
• Ultra popular
• Recognised among French investment coins
• Highly prized by investors and collectors on the precious metals market

A popular and sustainable investment in a fast-changing market

 
Faced with the rise in the price of silver in the 1950s, the French political authorities resigned themselves to putting an end to the minting of Francs Semeuses in silver. The metal used to make the coins was changed and cupro-nickel replaced silver.
 
This copper-nickel alloy was used to mint the 5 Francs Semeuses from 1969 until 2002, when a total of just over 460 million coins were produced. Cupro-nickel, a metal that is much less rare, noble and precious than silver, is used in French coins. It has the advantage of being more resistant than silver and will stand up better to wear over time.
 
Since at least ancient times, silver and gold have been prized noble metals, used for minting coins, hoarding, investing...
 
Generally speaking, silver is gold's great competitor, making it a very good complementary investment, given that its worldwide use is only increasing with time and the needs of various industries. 

What's more, it cannot be recycled, which means that its price is set to rise in the medium to long term. Along with gold, it benefits from the same advantageous tax treatment: as a reminder, there is no VAT on purchase and total exemption from tax on resale after 22 years. Investing in silver and 5 Francs Semeuses is therefore a forward-looking investment that is likely to benefit from the rise in the price of precious metals thanks to the leverage of long-term tax exemption.
 
As a result, although silver is less popular than its gold counterpart, it can be acquired at a much lower price. As a result, 5 Franc Semeuses represent an affordable value for a wide range of investors interested in the precious metals market. 
 
It has to be said that the political and economic situation is helping to drive up the price of silver, with global demand for the metal soaring, while silver mines are running out every day. This is simply the logic of supply and demand.
 
Both volatile and subject to financial market regulations, investing in silver through the 5 Francs Semeuse would seem to be a very good medium- to long-term strategy (remember : no VAT on purchase and total exemption after 22 years of ownership). All in all, investing in silver bullion could enable you to make serious capital gains with a view to the future and a well-considered investment strategy.