What is the value of a 10 Francs Hercule silver coin today?
10 Francs Hercule price history
Intrinsic value based on the silver price
How much does a 10 Francs Hercule silver coin weigh?
The 10 Francs Hercule coin has a total weight of 25.0000 grams. This weight includes the coin's complete alloy.
Taking its purity of 900‰ (90.0%) into account, this coin contains exactly 22.5000 grams of pure silver.
What is the purity of a 10 Francs Hercule silver coin?
The 10 Francs Hercule coin has a purity of 900 thousandths, i.e. 90.0% fine silver.
This purity is characteristic of coins struck in France between 1964-1973. The rest of the alloy (10.0%) is generally composed of copper to strengthen the coin's durability.
Obverse
The obverse features the iconic allegorical group originally created by Augustin Dupré under the First Republic. It depicts Hercules standing, facing forward, flanked by Liberty and Equality, symbolizing the union of republican values under the protection of strength.
Artistic composition and evolution of the motif
Republican legend: The motto LIBERTÉ ÉGALITÉ FRATERNITÉ encircles the upper motif.
Heritage and engraving: Directly inspired by the type created for the 5 Francs de l'An IV, the engraving was adapted to this format by Eugène-André Oudiné under the Third Republic.
Historical continuity: Issued across the Second, Third and then Fifth Republic (the Second Empire having set aside this imagery), the coin maintains a consistent aesthetic.
Die varieties: Subtle differences in the size of the typography, the drapery and the relief allow numismatists to identify specific mintages.
Reverse
The reverse displays the face value 10 FRANCS framed by a wreath of intertwined oak and olive branches, traditional symbols of civic strength and peace.
Markings, mints and security
Date and attribution: The year of issue appears at the bottom of the field, flanked by the mint marks or the mint letter.
Minting facilities: While the Paris mint is the principal issuer (with no letter or with specific marks depending on the period), other historical mints such as Bordeaux (K), Lyon (A) or Strasbourg also participated in the strikes.
Edge features: The edge is reeded, in keeping with the security standard of French silver coins of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Numismatic importance: The combination of the date, mint marks and mint letter determines the relative rarity of the coin and sets its potential premium among collectors.
Versions and mintage
10 Francs Hercule
History of the 10 Francs Hercule Coin
The 10 Francs Hercule in silver is a direct descendant of the type created during the Revolution by Augustin Dupré. First issued under the Second Republic (1848-1849) to mark the return of republican symbols, the denomination was reintroduced under the Fifth Republic with strikes from 1964 to 1973, which make up the majority of stock on the secondary market.
Technical specifications and typology
Historical strikes (19th century): Issued at a fineness of 900 thousandths (90% pure silver), sought primarily for their numismatic significance.
Modern strikes (1964–1973): Struck at a fineness of 900 thousandths with a gross weight of 25 grams and 22.5 grams of fine silver (diameter of 37 mm). Note: modules of approximately 10 g at 835 ‰ correspond to the historical formats of the 1 and 2 Francs or the 10 Francs Turin.
End of production and availability: Production ceased in 1973 due to monetary adjustments in response to the rising cost of metal, leaving significant volumes in circulation that are very accessible on the secondary market.
Legacy: A direct forerunner of the large 50 Francs Hercule module issued from 1974 onwards.
Price trends of the 10 Francs Hercule over the past twenty years (2005 to 2026)
The value of the 10 Francs Hercule is based on its intrinsic weight of pure silver (22.5 g for the modern type), giving it a direct correlation with the global spot price of the precious metal.
Market trend and premium calculation
2005–2011 cycle: Carried by the surge in global prices (reaching nearly $50/oz in spring 2011), its valuation experienced a spectacular rise.
Consolidation and recovery (2012–2026): After the downturn phase (2013-2019), the renewed demand for physical silver that began in 2020 put the coin back on a firm upward trajectory.
Buying mechanics: Common examples from the 1964-1973 period trade with a contained premium above the metal value, while rare 19th-century issues detach from it entirely.
Why invest in the 10 Francs Hercule coin?
It offers an ideal balance between silver weight and divisibility, sitting between the small decimal denominations of the Semeuse and the imposing 50 Francs Hercule.
Strengths, liquidity and market
Comfortable metal weight: Its 22.5 g of pure silver (1964-1973 type) allows significant physical positions to be built up quickly.
Excellent domestic liquidity: A standard item at French coin dealers, easily identifiable and tradeable on the domestic market.
International profile: Less fluid for export than contemporary bullion coins in the one-ounce format (31.1 g at 999 ‰), making it a vehicle suited primarily to patrimonial and domestic purposes.
Frequently asked questions
Why was the 10 Francs Hercule created under the Fifth Republic?
Struck from 1965 to 1973, the 10 Francs Hercule marks the return of the large silver coin during the presidency of General de Gaulle.
Designed to inspire confidence in the national currency following the stabilisation of the Nouveau Franc, it revives the revolutionary motif by Augustin Dupré (Hercules flanked by Liberty and Equality) which had already been used on the 5 Francs gold coins of the 19th century and which would later be adopted by the 50 Francs.
Are there rare years or variants for the 10 Francs Hercule?
The vast majority of coins issued between 1965 and 1973 were produced in millions of copies and trade at the value of their silver weight. Only a few exceptions stand out:
10 Francs Hercule 1964 (Essai): Struck before the official launch of the series, this example bearing the inscription "ESSAI" is highly sought after by collectors.
Exceptional states of preservation: Coins displaying a Fleurs de Coin (FDC) or Splendide condition with no trace of wear retain a collection premium above the simple metal value.
Why is the 10 Francs Hercule an essential coin for physical silver savings?
The 10 Francs Hercule is one of the favourites among French precious metals investors.
Thanks to its high purity of 900 ‰ and its weight of 22.5 g of fine silver, it is close in size to the great international large-denomination coins.
Its reputation in France is unrivalled, guaranteeing immediate liquidity and a generally very modest premium both when buying and selling.
It is the ideal compromise between a historic collector's coin and a fractional silver bar.
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