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| French Coins 50 Francs Hercule Silver coin of 1975. |
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| Coins of France50 Francs Silver coin. |
French Coins 50 Francs Hercule Silver coin of 1975.
French coins, collection of French coins, Coins of Europe, French Coinages, French Money and Coins, European Coins, Collecting the Coins of France.
Obverse: Hercules (a popular artistic figure in France) protecting two women who symbolically represent “Liberty” and “Equality”. Liberty is shown holding a pole with a phrygian cap on top of the pole. Equality is shown holding a scale of justice. Hercules stands in the center protecting the two women and wearing the skin of the Nemean Lion which, in the legend of the twelve tasks, granted him the gift of invulnerability. On the outer periphery in French is the motto "LIBERTE EGALITE FRATERNITE" or in English "Liberty – Equality – Brotherhood".
Legend: LIBERTE EGALITE FRATERNITE
Exergue: . Dupre .
Reverse: Denomination (50 FRANCS), date (1975) and privy marks of the Paris mint within wreath.
Legend: REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE * . 1975 .
The coin edge is not reeded nor smooth but decorated in ornate designs. Most of these ornaments are symbolic representations of agriculture, industry and commerce.
Mint Place: Paris (A)
Years Minted: 1974-1980
Total Mintage: 40,425,000 (approximate)
References: KM-941.1.
Diameter: 41 mm
Weight: 30 grams (0.87 oz of silver)
Composition: 90% Silver, 10% Copper
Rapidly rising silver prices in the 1970's placed additional pressure on France's silver coinage program that would lead to the demise of the 10 Franc Hercules series due to lack of being profitable.
In response, French financial authorities decided first to replace it by a 20 Francs coin but silver prices were rising so rapidly they gave up this project (only a few essays were struck of this 20 Francs, extremely rare) and decided to issue a 50 Francs coin instead. This one is larger than the 10 Francs with slightly more silver content and a slight increase in overall weight.
The overall design was based on an original design from Augustin Dupré used on 5 Franc coinage from 1795 with only minor changes.