French 5 Francs Silver Coin - 'La Semeuse' (The Sower) by Louis-Oscar Roty
Coin/Bullion · The Paris Mint (Monnaie de Paris), designed by acclaimed medalist Louis-Oscar Roty (1846–1911). It is one of the most famous government-issued numismatic designs in French history.
Pattern: 'La Semeuse' (The Sower) design series; first introduced for silver coinage in 1897 and utilized for the 5 Francs silver denomination between 1959 and 1969.
Type
Coin/Bullion
Maker
The Paris Mint (Monnaie de Paris), designed by acclaimed medalist Louis-Oscar Roty (1846–1911). It is one of the most famous government-issued numismatic designs in French history.
Material
83.5% Silver (.835 fine) with 16.5% Copper alloy. Known as 'Silver 835'.
Dimensions
Diameter: 29.0 mm; Thickness: 2.3 mm; Weight: 12.0 grams (containing approximately 0.3222 troy ounces of pure silver).
Description
This silver 5 Francs piece is an icon of French numismatics. It features the 'Semeuse' (The Sower) walking into a rising sun with her PhD-style Phrygian cap, a personification of the French Republic. The drapery of her dress flows behind her in a classic Art Nouveau aesthetic, and the strike offers a beautiful play of light and shadow across the silver surface. It represents the height of French industrial minting artistry.
Key Features
Signature 'O. Roty' on the obverse; the figure wears a Phrygian cap (liberty cap); the background includes a radiating sun; the inscriptions 'REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE' are rendered in a clean, modern serif typeface.
Material & Composition
83.5% Silver (.835 fine) with 16.5% Copper alloy. Known as 'Silver 835'.
Finish & Decoration
High-relief die-struck finish. The obverse features the Sower walking left, sowing seeds against a setting sun, symbolizing a young Republic sowing the seeds of its future. The style is quintessentially Art Nouveau in its fluid drapery and naturalistic movement.
Hallmarks & Stamps
The obverse is signed 'O. Roty' at the bottom right. The reverse (not visible but standard for this type) includes the cornucopia mint mark for Paris and an owl or dolphin mark for the Graveur Général (Chief Engraver).
Construction Details
Machine-manufactured by die-striking at the Monnaie de Paris on prepared planchets. Features a reeded edge for security and to prevent silver shaving.
Functional Features
Milled/reeded edge to prevent counterfeiting and clipping. Circular form for durability in circulation. High relief for aesthetic and tactile identification in commerce.
Handle & Grip Details
N/A (Numismatic item).
Craftsmanship Details
Precision die engraving. The transition of the 1897 design to the 1960s large-size planchet shows excellent attention to scale and relief, maintaining the elegance of the original hand-engraved master dies.
Authentication Indicators
The crispness of the 'O. Roty' signature and the specific flow of the drapery are consistent with original Paris Mint dies. The weight of 12g and diameter of 29mm are the primary physical diagnostics for authenticity.
Origin & Manufacturing
France, Paris. Minted at the Quai de Conti workshop, one of the oldest minting institutions in the world.
Era & Period
Fifth Republic of France (Post-War Modernist Era). While the design is Art Nouveau (c. 1897), this specific 5-Franc variant belongs to the monetary reform era of the late 1950s/1960s.
Age Estimate
Circa 1959–1969. Based on the 5 Francs denomination and the silver content which was phased out for nickel in 1970.
Cultural Significance
The Sower is to France what Lady Liberty is to the United States. It remains a powerful symbol of French agricultural heritage, labor, and the distribution of Republican ideals.
Condition Notes
Good to Very Good (Circulated). Visible contact marks and surface scratches (bag marks). Evidence of handling on high points such as the shoulder and thigh. Light grey patina or 'tarnish' consistent with silver alloy age.
Value Estimate
$10 - $25 USD depending on current silver spot prices and the specific year of the strike. Common dates in circulated condition trade mostly for their bullion value.
Care & Maintenance
For numismatic pieces, do NOT polish. Cleaning silver coins with abrasives or dips significantly reduces their collector value. Store in a PVC-free plastic flip or a specialized coin capsule to prevent further oxidation.
Similar Pieces
1 Franc (1898-1920) which is smaller; the modern Nickel 5 Francs (1970-2001) which has no silver content; and the Silver 50 Francs Hercules, which is much larger and heavier.
Interesting Facts
The model for the Sower was Rosalba Torre, a young woman from an Italian family of models. During the transition to the 'New Franc' in 1960, these silver coins were used to restore public confidence in the French currency's value.