5 Francs French Sudan
France
1945–1958
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$12.92
Based on Silver spot price ($80.23/oz) · 83.5% purity · 6g
Updated 2:27 AM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | France |
| Years Minted | 1945–1958 |
| Composition | 0.835 silver |
| Weight | 6 g |
| Diameter | 23 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Reeded |
Design
Obverse
Head of Marianne facing left, with the inscription 'RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE' and the date.
Reverse
Denomination '5 FRANCS' within a wreath, and the inscription 'AFRIQUE OCCIDENTALE FRANÇAISE'.
History & Notable Facts
This 5-franc coin from French Sudan was part of the 1945 CFA franc introduction, pegging West African colonies to the French economy like a financial leash.
Design-wise, it featured a simple head of Marianne on one side, symbolizing the Republic, and a more generic reverse with the denomination. No exotic animals or tribal art here; it was straightforward colonial currency. Minted in Paris, these pieces circulated across French West Africa, including in what became Mali.
Records show production ran until 1958, but exact mintage figures for French Sudan specifically are murky—probably lost in postwar bureaucracy. The coin was struck in silver for early issues, though later ones shifted to base metals as resources tightened.
Some collectors swear these coins carry a curse from the colonies.
That's about as mystical as it gets.
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