What is the value of a 1 Franc Semeuse silver coin today?
1 Franc Semeuse price history
Intrinsic value based on the silver price
How much does a 1 Franc Semeuse silver coin weigh?
The 1 Franc Semeuse coin has a total weight of 5.0000 grams. This weight includes the coin's complete alloy.
Taking its purity of 900‰ (90.0%) into account, this coin contains exactly 4.5000 grams of pure silver.
What is the purity of a 1 Franc Semeuse silver coin?
The 1 Franc Semeuse coin has a purity of 900 thousandths, i.e. 90.0% fine silver.
This purity is characteristic of coins struck in France between 1898-1920. The rest of the alloy (10.0%) is generally composed of copper to strengthen the coin's durability.
Obverse
The obverse features one of the most iconic effigies in French numismatics: the Semeuse, an allegorical figure of the Republic walking to the left, hair flowing in the wind, sowing seeds against a backdrop of a rising sun.
This work of great symbolic power is signed at the bottom of the field by its creator, master engraver Louis-Oscar Roty.
Composition and obverse variants
Circular legend: The inscription RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE surrounds the allegorical silhouette.
Original striking period (1898–1920): The historic silver strikes feature Roty's original design, with particular care given to the profile and the details of the drapery.
Die variants: Subtle retouches and engraving adjustments were made over the years, catalogued by specialist numismatic references, while retaining the original signature.
Reverse
The reverse features at its centre the face value 1 FRANC, framed by a vegetal wreath composed of two oak and olive branches tied at their base, major symbols of civic strength and peace.
Markings, mints and numismatic variations
Legend and date: The year of issue appears at the bottom of the field, directly below the vegetal composition.
Production mints: The Monnaie de Paris handles the majority of issues, identifiable by the cornucopia and the privy marks of the Chief Engravers. Other mints, such as Bordeaux, contributed additional strikes for certain years.
Collecting interest: Low mintage figures on specific dates as well as variations in the positioning of privy marks or the date single out the rare series that are actively sought after.
Versions and mintage
1 Franc Semeuse
History of the 1 Franc Semeuse silver coin
The 1 Franc Semeuse in silver was introduced in 1898 under the Third Republic to modernise French monetary iconography by replacing earlier effigies (Cérès, classic republican profile). Louis-Oscar Roty won the engraving competition and established a naturalist style inspired by the art of the medal, creating an icon of the national currency.
Technical specifications and evolution of the fineness
Dimensions and weight: Gross weight of 5 grams with a diameter of 23 millimetres.
Period 1898–1914 (Fineness 835 ‰): Struck at 83.5% pure silver, i.e. 4.175 grams of fine silver per coin.
Period 1915–1920 (Fineness 680 ‰): Fineness reduced to 68% pure silver under the financial burden of the First World War, i.e. 3.40 grams of fine silver.
End of striking and hoarding: Progressively withdrawn after 1920 following the depreciation of the franc and the rise in the metal price, which led to massive hoarding by households, before its official demonetisation.
Iconographic legacy: Roty's design would enjoy exceptional longevity, reproduced on centime denominations, the nickel franc and then the coins of the Fifth Republic through to the euro.
Price evolution of the 1 Franc Semeuse silver coin over the last twenty years
The value of the 1 Franc Semeuse rests on two components: its intrinsic fine silver weight (valuation floor) and a numismatic premium depending on the condition and the rarity of the year.
Market trends and behaviour (2005 – 2026)
Cycle 2005–2011: The surge in the grey metal (from ~$7 to nearly $50/oz in April 2011) took the coin from €2–3 in the early 2000s to significantly higher levels for common-date pieces.
Correction and recovery (2012–2026): After the retreat phase (2013–2016), the return of inflation and economic uncertainty from 2020 onwards consolidated prices around the metal weight.
Numismatic selectivity: Common series trade close to the metal value, while fine grades (SUP/SPL/FDC) or rare years retain a premium independent of the SPOT price.
Why invest in the 1 Franc Semeuse silver coin?
It represents a prime tool for savers wishing to accumulate physical silver at a very low unit price while benefiting from optimal divisibility.
Advantages and limitations of the asset
Minimal entry ticket: Allows silver metal purchases to be spread out with very modest budgets without tying up large amounts of capital.
Domestic liquidity: Immediately recognised by all specialist dealers, banks and numismatists in France.
Local anchoring: As its recognition remains essentially French and European, it offers lower fluidity for export compared to international bullion investment coins (Maple Leaf, Philharmoniker).
Frequently asked questions
Why is the 1 Franc Semeuse in silver from the Third Republic so popular?
Struck from 1898 to 1920, the 1 Franc Semeuse showcases the masterpiece engraved by Oscar Roty.
It is the circulation coin most widely used and handled by the French at the beginning of the 20th century.
A direct witness to the Belle Époque and the First World War, this emblematic denomination embodies the financial stability of France before the Poincaré devaluation.
What is the difference between the 1 Franc Semeuse in silver and the nickel version (1960-2001)?
This is an essential distinction to avoid making a mistake:
In silver (1898 - 1920): The coin weighs exactly 5 grams, has a diameter of 23 mm and contains 4.175 grams of pure silver (835 ‰ alloy). It does not react to a magnet.
In nickel (1960 - 2001): Issued for the Nouveau Franc, the modern version is slightly smaller (21 mm), weighs 6 grams, is strongly magnetic and contains no precious metal.
What are the vintages or rarities to watch out for on the 1 Franc Semeuse in silver?
Although the majority of mintage years were struck in tens of millions of examples and trade at their silver melt value, certain issues stand out:
1 Franc Semeuse 1900, 1903 and 1913: Issued in more limited volumes, these mintage years achieve small numismatic premiums.
1 Franc Semeuse 1914-1918: A wartime period during which coins were massively hoarded by the population. Examples in original mint state (BU / Splendide) retain a very strong appeal among collectors.
What is the advantage of investing in the 1 Franc Semeuse in silver compared to heavier coins?
With its weight of 5 grams (half that of a 2 Francs Semeuse), the 1 Franc Semeuse is one of the smallest historical silver investment denominations available in France.
It is the perfect tool for ultra-fractionating your precious metal capital. It allows you to adjust your investments with great precision and offers immediate liquidity on the national market.
Similar coins
