ObverseImage: Wikimedia Commons · Albert Désiré Barre · CC BY-SA 2.5
100 Francs Gold
France
1878–1898
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$4,476.60
Based on Gold spot price ($4,795.98/oz) · 90.0% purity · 32.258g
Updated 6:41 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | France |
| Years Minted | 1878–1898 |
| Composition | 90% gold, 10% copper |
| Weight | 32.258 g |
| Diameter | 24 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Reeded |
Design
Obverse
Depicts the head of a woman symbolizing the French Republic, facing left, with the inscription 'LIBERTÉ, ÉGALITÉ, FRATERNITÉ'.
Reverse
Features the denomination '100 FRANCS' surrounded by a wreath, with the year at the bottom.
History & Notable Facts
The 100 Francs gold coin of the Third Republic was struck to the exact specifications of the Latin Monetary Union, making it interchangeable with currencies from Italy, Belgium, and Switzerland.
That meant a French farmer could trade it for goods in Rome without haggling over exchange rates. Weighing 32.258 grams of 900 fine gold, these coins were produced at the Paris Mint from 1878 through 1898, often featuring the Republic's effigy on one side and agricultural motifs on the other. The designs varied slightly over the years, but the intent remained consistent: to project economic recovery after the Franco-Prussian War.
Exactly how many were minted in certain years is unclear; records from that era are spotty. What we do know is that many ended up in melting pots during economic crises, leaving fewer for today's collections. Some specimens show wear from actual use, a rarity among gold coins.
Rising gold prices have made them more valuable as bullion than curiosities.
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