5 francs Semeuse (silver)
France · silver · 1959-1969
Overview
The 5 franc Semeuse silver coin was struck from 1959 to 1969, at the time of the changeover to the new franc. It revives Oscar Roty's Sower, the young woman striding and sowing towards the rising sun, created at the end of the nineteenth century and one of the most familiar images of French coinage; the reverse carries the value between an olive branch and ears of wheat. The coin weighs 12 g of 835 ‰ silver, that is 10.02 g of fine silver, with a diameter of 29 mm. It was later replaced by a cupronickel version of the same design, lighter and without silver, which must not be confused with it: weight and ring tell them apart. Kept in large numbers in families, it reaches the counter in very variable condition and trades by its fine silver weight. At Gold & Silver Company in Dottignies, every 5 franc Semeuse is weighed and appraised in front of the person, like the gold coins; the assay in the agency is what counts.
Characteristics
| Country | France |
|---|---|
| Metal | silver |
| Gross weight | 12 g |
| Fineness | 835 ‰ |
| Fine metal | 10.02 g |
| Diameter | 29 mm |
| Years of issue | 1959-1969 |
How to check it
Indicative check: weigh the coin to the centigram and measure its diameter with callipers; a deviation of more than 0.1 g or 0.2 mm from the reference values warrants an examination in the agency. The assay in the agency is what counts.
At Gold & Silver Company
Every coin is weighed and appraised in front of the person, at the agency in Dottignies (Mouscron); the price is set at the rate of the moment of the transaction and is never published in advance.
Welcome policy: for gold, Gold & Silver Company receives by appointment from one kilogram; below that, no appointment is needed during opening hours; for silver, no appointment is needed whatever the quantity.
Related terms
Further reading
Sources
Characteristics checked against the reference numismatic catalogues and the issuers' official specifications (September 2026). The appraisal in the agency is what counts.