What is the value of a 100 Francs Argent 1982 - 2002 coin today?
100 Francs Argent 1982 - 2002 price history
Intrinsic value based on the silver price
How much does a 100 Francs Argent 1982 - 2002 coin weigh?
The 100 Francs Argent 1982 - 2002 coin has a total weight of 15.0000 grams. This weight includes the coin's complete alloy.
Taking its purity of 900‰ (90.0%) into account, this coin contains exactly 13.5000 grams of pure silver.
What is the purity of a 100 Francs Argent 1982 - 2002 coin?
The 100 Francs Argent 1982 - 2002 coin has a purity of 900 thousandths, i.e. 90.0% fine silver.
This purity is characteristic of coins struck in France between 1982-2002. The rest of the alloy (10.0%) is generally composed of copper to strengthen the coin's durability.
Obverse
The series is divided between the standard Panthéon type and numerous thematic commemorative issues struck by the Monnaie de Paris, offering great visual diversity.
Panthéon type and thematic variations
Panthéon type (1982): Depicts the façade of the Parisian monument framed by two allegorical figures holding a branch and a wreath. Engraved by Joaquin Jimenez.
Inscriptions: The motto LIBERTÉ ÉGALITÉ FRATERNITÉ and the face value of 100 Francs.
Commemorative issues: Specific obverses dedicated to historical figures, events and cultural themes depending on the year of issue.
Reverse
On the standard series, the reverse features the facade of the Panthéon de Paris, a symbol of the great Men of the Nation. The commemorative series, for their part, display an original design specific to the annual theme.
Key elements and technical details
Legends and motifs: Inscription RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE, face value 100 FRANCS and year of mintage.
Mint marks: Presence of the cornucopia (Monnaie de Paris) and the chief engraver's mark.
Edge: Marked with a raised inscription, most commonly the motto LIBERTÉ ÉGALITÉ FRATERNITÉ.
Range complexity: Diversity of designs on commemorative editions, which complicates the overall assessment for investors focused solely on the raw metal.
Versions and mintage
Le Panthéon
Le Panthéon - Marie Curie
Le Panthéon - Émile Zola
Le Panthéon - Statue de la Liberté
Le Panthéon - La Fayette
Le Panthéon - Fraternité
Le Panthéon - Droits de l'Homme
Le Panthéon - Charlemagne
Le Panthéon - René Descartes
Le Panthéon - Jean Monnet
Le Panthéon - La Liberté guidant le peuple
Le Panthéon - Libération de Paris
Le Panthéon - Victoire de 1945
Le Panthéon - Clovis
André Malraux
History of the 100 Francs Argent coin
Born in 1982 under the presidency of François Mitterrand, the 100 Francs Argent coin begins with the Panthéon series, struck almost without interruption until 2001 by the Monnaie de Paris. It is the most representative silver series of the Fifth Republic.
Characteristics and commemorative issues
Composition: Silver at 900 ‰ (13.5 g of pure silver for a total weight of 15 g, diameter 31 mm).
Thematic series: Regular parallel issues celebrating events (Bicentennial of the Revolution, Olympic Games) and historical figures (De Gaulle, Victor Hugo).
End of the series (2002): Production ceased with the transition to the euro. The coins retain a heritage and numismatic value well above their former face value.
Price trends and valuation (2005 – 2026)
The value of the coin varies according to the price of the precious metal and its numismatic potential:
Metal value (Spot): Directly indexed to its 13.5 g of fine silver. Sharp rise during the 2010–2011 peak (silver at $50/oz), followed by stabilisation and then a sustained recovery since 2020.
Current price range: A standard Panthéon coin in fine condition generally trades between €15 and €25 depending on market prices.
Limited mintages: Rare commemorative issues benefit from a numismatic premium disconnected from the simple metal weight.
Why invest in the 100 Francs Argent coin?
It is a fractional and highly accessible metal savings vehicle, ideal for gradually building up a stock of physical silver.
Strengths and points to watch
Excellent liquidity in France: Immediately recognised by all French dealers, brokers and collectors.
Buying strategy: Favour common mintage years of the Panthéon series close to the spot price for a pure metal investment.
Beware of premiums: Avoid buying commemorative coins with an excessive premium if the objective is purely patrimonial.
Taxation (France): Subject to the Tax on Precious Metals (TMP at 11.5%) or the capital gains option (TPV) upon resale.
Frequently asked questions
What is the distinctive feature of the 100 Francs silver coins issued between 1982 and 2002?
This series of commemorative coins was inaugurated with the famous "100 Francs Panthéon" (engraved by Émile Gilioli) to mark the return of silver to French circulation coinage.
From 1982 until the arrival of the euro in 2002, the Monnaie de Paris issued this denomination with ephemeral thematic designs celebrating major events (Bicentennial of the Revolution, Albertville Olympic Games, 1998 World Cup) or great historical figures (Delacroix, Charlemagne, Malraux).
Why is the "100 Francs Panthéon" (1982) the best known in this category?
Struck in more than 3 million copies for its first year of issue, the 100 Francs Panthéon is the most abundant in the series.
It was intended to circulate alongside banknotes before being quickly hoarded by the public.
It is today the reference coin of this denomination for investors looking to buy silver metal in quantity as close to the spot price as possible.
Do certain years or designs of the 100 Francs Argent have a numismatic premium?
Yes. While the 1982 Panthéon version trades primarily on the value of its silver metal, other commemorative editions were struck in much lower mintages (sometimes just a few tens of thousands of examples, particularly in the series from the late 1990s).
Coins in mint condition (FDC/BU) bearing these rare designs or specific finishes (known as "Belle Épreuve" or Proof) command a collector's premium that is sometimes far higher than the simple weight of the metal.
What is the advantage of investing in 100 Francs Silver coins compared to 10 or 50 Francs Hercule?
The 100 Francs Argent coins are much more recent and have circulated very little from hand to hand compared to post-war coins (50 Francs Hercule or 20 Francs Turin).
They are therefore generally preserved in a superior condition (no wear, original lustre intact).
Moreover, with an intermediate gross weight and metal content, they offer an excellent alternative for diversifying a French physical silver portfolio in modern denominations.
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