100 Francs Sower

The 100 Francs Sower's design by Oscar Roty proved so resilient that it outlasted three French republics and two world wars, remaining in production from 1904 to 1940.

This silver coin, struck at the Paris Mint, featured the allegorical figure of a woman sowing seeds, symbolizing agricultural prosperity in a nation still recovering from the Franco-Prussian War. It was composed of 0.900 fine silver, with weights varying slightly by year—typically around 25 grams. Some issues included edge lettering, like "Dieu Protège la France," though not all.

Mintage figures are spotty for certain years; records from the 1920s might have been lost in bureaucratic reshuffles. What we know is that millions entered circulation, serving as everyday currency rather than collector's items.

As for the sower, she's often mistaken for a goddess, but she's just a sturdy emblem of the republic. Collectors fixate on die varieties, which can be as thrilling as watching paint dry.