History
The timeless motif of the sowing woman
La Semeuse, the sowing woman, is perhaps the most beloved and recognised motif in European coinage history. Louis Oscar Roty’s design from 1897 symbolised the fertility, hope and progress of the Third Republic. More than sixty years later the design returned on the silver 5 franc coin, underlining its timeless value.
With 12 grams of silver at 835‰, this coin holds roughly 10 grams of fine silver. The silver 5 franc has only existed since 1959, when the motif returned with the introduction of the new franc. The earlier Semeuse coins, struck from 1897 to 1920, carry the same design on smaller denominations (50 centimes, 1 franc and 2 francs) and are therefore lighter: the heaviest of them, the 2 franc, weighs 10 grams and holds about 8.35 grams of fine silver. This design also inspired the famous American “Walking Liberty” half dollar (1916–1935). We buy every version on its actual silver content.
