Numistify guide
Which French Coins Are Silver? Silver Content by Year
French silver comes in clear eras: the old .900 standard, the .835 coins of the Latin Monetary Union, the low .680 Turin coins, and the large silver francs of the Fifth Republic. Here is each coin with its date range and silver content.
The short answer
Before 1864 French silver coins were .900 fine, including the large 5 francs (25 g) struck until 1878. From 1864–1866 the 50 centimes, 1 franc and 2 francs dropped to .835, the standard of the Latin Monetary Union, and stayed silver until 1920. The 10 and 20 francs Turin of 1929–1939 are only .680. After the war, silver returned in larger coins: the 5 francs Semeuse (.835, 1960–1969), the 10 francs Hercule (.900, 1965–1973), the 50 francs Hercule (.900, 1974–1980) and the 100 francs (.900, 1982–2001).
French silver coins by year
| Denomination | Years | Fineness | Silver (troy oz) | KM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Francs | 1795–1878 | .900 | 0.7234 | — |
| 1 Franc | 1802–1864 | .900 | 0.1447 | — |
| 2 Francs | 1803–1864 | .900 | 0.2894 | — |
| 25 Centimes | 1845–1848 | .900 | 0.0362 | — |
| 50 Centimes | 1845–1863 | .900 | 0.0723 | — |
| 50 Centimes | 1864–1920 | .835 | 0.0671 | — |
| 1 Franc | 1866–1920 | .835 | 0.1342 | — |
| 2 Francs | 1866–1920 | .835 | 0.2685 | — |
| 10 Francs | 1929–1939 | .680 | 0.2186 | KM-878 |
| 20 Francs | 1929–1939 | .680 | 0.4372 | KM-879 |
| 5 Francs | 1960–1969 | .835 | 0.3222 | KM-926 |
| 10 Francs | 1965–1973 | .900 | 0.7234 | KM-932 |
| 50 Francs | 1974–1980 | .900 | 0.8681 | KM-941 |
| 100 Francs | 1982–2001 | .900 | 0.4340 | KM-951.1 |
| 10 Francs | 1996–2001 | .900 | 0.6424 | — |
Not every coin is listed. This table is for reference: it covers the silver coins in Numistify’s catalogue and may not include every coin, date, variety or special issue. If your coin is not here, look it up in a world coin catalogue such as Numista or the Standard Catalog of World Coins, or ask your local coin shop.
Reading the table
Fineness is the share of silver in the coin: .900 means 90% silver. Silver (troy oz) is the pure silver it contains, the figure that sets its metal value — multiply it by the day’s silver price. KM is the coin’s number in the Standard Catalog of World Coins, the quickest way to look it up. Our guide to silver and gold melt value shows the calculation.
Telling them apart
The 5 francs Semeuse: pieces dated 1960 to 1969 are .835 silver. A 1969 coin is silver; the base-metal coin of the same size that replaced it exists with a 1969 date only as a trial piece.
The 10 francs Hercule dated 1964 are trial pieces, not circulation coins.
The 20 francs was a gold coin until 1914; the silver 20 francs is the Turin type of 1929–1939.
The 100 francs was struck every year from 1982 to 2001 in .900 silver. The 1989–1990 Albertville Olympic 100 francs is a different, heavier coin.
What they are worth
Silver content sets a floor, not the value. A scarce date, a rare mint or a coin in fine condition can be worth far more than its metal, so check before selling any coin for its silver: look it up in a world coin catalogue such as the Standard Catalog of World Coins or the NGC World Coin Price Guide, compare auction records and eBay sold listings for the same coin in the same condition, and ask your local coin shop. Our guide to what your coin is worth walks through each step, and are old foreign coins worth anything? covers sorting a mixed lot.
Questions people ask
Are old French francs silver?
Many are. Francs and their fractions were .900 silver before 1864 and .835 silver until 1920. The 10 and 20 francs of 1929–1939 are .680. The 5 francs of 1960–1969, the 10 and 50 francs Hercule (1965–1980) and the 100 francs (1982–2001) are silver too.
Is the 1960s French 5 francs silver?
Yes. The 5 francs Semeuse dated 1960 to 1969 is .835 silver, 12 g, with about 0.32 troy ounces of silver.
Is the French 50 francs Hercule silver?
Yes. The 50 francs Hercule of 1974–1980 is .900 silver, 30 g — the largest circulating French silver coin.
Which French coins have the most silver?
The 50 francs Hercule (about 0.87 troy ounces), followed by the 10 francs Hercule and the old 5 francs écu (about 0.72 troy ounces each).
Related guides
Silver and gold melt value — turning silver weight into a metal value.
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