ObverseImage: Wikimedia Commons · Eric Gaba (Sting - fr:Sting) · CC BY-SA 3.0
50 Francs Silver
France
1974–2001
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$34.36
Based on Silver spot price ($79.17/oz) · 90.0% purity · 15g
Updated 6:41 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | France |
| Years Minted | 1974–2001 |
| Composition | 900 silver |
| Weight | 15 g |
| Diameter | 31 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Reeded |
Design
Obverse
Depicts the head of Marianne, symbol of the French Republic.
Reverse
Features Hercules and the denomination.
History & Notable Facts
In 1974, France's 50 Francs silver coin was struck with a 90% silver content, a deliberate choice that linked postwar currency to centuries of French monetary tradition.
This composition set it apart from contemporaries, many of which used base metals. The obverse bore the iconic Marianne, while reverses varied from agricultural motifs to commemorative designs, reflecting France's evolving identity.
Mintage figures are spotty for certain years; official records from the Paris Mint don't always specify exact numbers beyond broad estimates. Not every issue was silver—only the initial run up to 1980 qualified, after which alloys changed.
Collectors note the coin's heft, a satisfying weight that hints at its value. As for its fate, most ended up in vaults or melted down.
Some say it was the last hurrah for silver in everyday French change.
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