France Euro Coins

France was one of the first members that in 1957 founded the European Union, and then became a member on January 1, 1958.

The history of the French currency is even richer. Looking back in time, we trace back to the distant Middle Ages, one of the periods of greatest splendor of this Nation. A Nation that at the time was a Kingdom where the Louis d'Or coin circulated. A currency that remained the monetary symbol of France for a long time.

Everything remained unchanged until, with the French Revolution of 1789 and the subsequent Proclamation of the First Republic on September 22 in 1792, a new currency was adopted, namely the Franc. This currency also had a long life. In fact, it remained the official currency of France for over 2 centuries.

In 1960, it underwent a revaluation. New Francs were minted but with a significantly higher value, as they had a value 100 times greater than the previous coins. 42 years later, they would then be replaced by the Euro.

The French currency is minted by the Monnaie de Paris, which is the state mint that uses the cornucopia symbol. The Monnaie de Paris operates several facilities, among which one stands out for its importance, namely Parsaac. Here, Euro coins are still being produced.

The directors of the Mint have varied:

• 1999 – 2000: Pierre Rodier – Bee
• 2001 – 2002: Gerard Buquoy – Horseshoe
• 2003: Serge Levet – Heart
• 2004 – 2010: Hubert Larivière – Horn
• 2011 – present: Yves Sampo – Workshop Flower

Present on all coins is the National Symbol indicated by the characters “RF” which stand for the acronym Republique Francaise, or French Republic.

These symbols were chosen by a group chaired by the Minister of Economy and Finance, composed of various personalities, including:

• numismatists
• artists
• former EU Commission member Christiane Scrivener
• members of Parliament
• the Director of the French Mint Emmanuel Constant
• engraver Pierre Rodier
• actress Irène Jacob
• representatives from various professional categories

Therefore, let’s take a closer look at what they have developed. Let’s explore all the various French euro coins minted, also checking the rare French €2 coins.

The 1 Euro Cent France coin is obviously the smallest coin. This, along with the other two red cents, has the peculiarity of sharing the same design on the Obverse of the coin.

On the Reverse, there is depicted the Common Face found on all 1 Cent coins of the Eurozone countries.

As for the Obverse, it features the face of Marianne, a symbol of the French Republic. To the right of the image is the acronym “RF”, République Française.

At the bottom, the minting year is engraved above which is the cornucopia, as well as the symbol of the Paris Mint, and another variable symbol that distinguishes the name of the Mint.

All of this is enclosed by a circle of 12 five-pointed stars, a symbol of the European Union, and between stars no. 4 and no. 5, the engraver's signature is present: F.COURTIADE.

• Materials: Copper-plated steel (steel 94.35% – copper 5.65%)
• Thickness: 1.67 mm
• Weight: 2.30 g
• Diameter: 16.25 mm
• Edge: SmoothEngraver: Fabienne Courtiade

As mentioned earlier, the 2 Euro Cents France also features the same image. Specifically, there is a portrait of Marianne, the symbol of the French Republic.

The Obverse: The face is flanked by the two letters “RF” which stand for République Française, and below it, there is the mint mark and the symbol of the Director of the mint. Slightly lower is the year of minting.

On the outer edge, there are 12 five-pointed stars representing the European Union. Below the year of minting, the engraver's signature is present as follows: F.COURTIADE.

On the Reverse, we find the common face shared by all Eurozone countries.

• Materials: Copper-plated steel (steel 94.35% – copper 5.65%)
• Thickness: 1.67 mm
• Weight: 3.06 g
• Diameter: 18.75 mm
• Edge: Horizontal milled
• Engraver: Fabienne Courtiade

To conclude with the “red cents,” we describe the 5 Euro Cents France. The Reverse is the same as all 5 cent coins from the Eurozone countries. On the Obverse, however, is depicted the young Marianne. Her face was chosen because her features embody the desire for a strong and lasting Europe. The name of the engraver is present on the coin, between two of the 12 five-pointed stars on its edge: F.COURTIADE.

The initials “RF”, which stand for République Française, the symbol of the Paris Mint, and the symbol that distinguishes the Director of the Mint are also engraved.

• Materials: Copper-plated steel (steel 94.35% – copper 5.65%)
• Thickness: 1.67 mm
• Weight: 3.92 g
• Diameter: 21.25 mm
• Edge: Smooth
• Engraver: Fabienne Courtiade

The 10 Euro Cents France features a completely different design.

At the center of the Obverse of the coin, we see depicted The Sower, as well as the symbolic figure already present in the previous French coinage.

To the right of the woman, one can notice the engraving “RF”, République Française, from which several “strokes” emerge, sometimes interrupted by the design, along with the artist's signature. The latter has been engraved vertically within two of the six lines that symbolize the flag of France.

To the left of the figure, the minting year is instead engraved horizontally, also placed between lines.

All of this is embraced by 12 five-pointed stars arranged in a circle, symbol of the EU.

The Reverse, on the other hand, features the common face shared by all coins that are part of the Euro Zone. In fact, the First series is that which goes from 1999 to 2006 and presents the common face with the Euro Zone countries separated. Instead, the Second series that goes from 2007 to today has as its common face the map with the united countries and the addition of the new countries that have joined the Eurozone.

• Materials: Nordic Gold (copper 89% – aluminum 5% – zinc 5% – tin 1%)
• Thickness: 1.93 mm
• Weight: 4.10 g
• Diameter: 19.75 mm
• Edge: Ribbed with thick milling
• Engraver: Laurent Jorio

The 20 Euro Cents France features the same image as the 10 Cents.

Therefore, on the Obverse, there is depicted The Sower, a symbolic figure of freedom and hope for a bountiful harvest. In the background, there are several dashed lines.

To her left, the year of minting is engraved horizontally, between lines that are also horizontal, and below the Mint mark.

To her right, the acronym “RF”, République Française, is shown, along with the artist's signature, placed between the first two vertical lines. The frame of this side features 12 five-pointed stars, a symbol of the EU.

The Reverse of this coin is the same as that of all 20 cent Euro coins in the Eurozone. The First series spans from 1999 to 2006, featuring a common side with the countries of the Eurozone separated from one another. The Second series, on the other hand, runs from 2007 to the present and has a common side showing a map with all the countries united, along with the addition of the new Eurozone countries.

• Materials: Nordic Gold (copper 89% – aluminum 5% – zinc 5% – tin 1%)
• Thickness: 2.14 mm
• Weight: 5.74 g
• Diameter: 22.25 mm
• Edge: Wide milling
• Engraver: Laurent Jorio

The last French cent is the 50 Euro Cents France. It shares the same image as the first two.

On the Obverse, The Sower is depicted. The original model of this figure was designed by Louis-Oscar Roty (1846 – 1911), who was inspired by the young Charlotte Ragot, who served as his model in 1895.

Portrayed in flowing garments with her hair blowing in the wind, to her right is the symbol “RF”, République Française, and the artist's signature, both placed between the lines depicted in vertical.

On the left of the woman, we find the mint year and the mint mark, all adorned with horizontal lines.

Other lines are present in the background of the upper part of the coin. On the outer edge, 12 five-pointed stars are drawn, symbolizing the EU.

The Reverse features the common face shared with other 50 cent European coins. The 1st series of 50 cents runs from 1999 to 2006. The common face depicts the Eurozone countries separated from each other. The 2nd series runs from 2007 to the present and presents all Eurozone countries united with the addition of new ones.

• Materials: Nordic Gold (copper 89% – aluminum 5% – zinc 5% – tin 1%)
• Thickness: 2.38 mm
• Weight: 7.80 g
• Diameter: 24.25 mm
• Edge: Grooved with thick milling
• Engraver: Laurent Jorio

The bimetallic 1 Euro France coin features a design rich in details on the Obverse.

At the center is the tree of life, enclosed in a hexagon, symbolizing the boundaries of the Nation. Surrounding the hexagon is an inscription, in a circle, with the motto “Liberté Egalité Fraternité“. Below the geometric figure and the inscription is the engraver's signature.

The trunk, with large roots at its base, is situated between the initials “RF”, Republique Francaise.

On the outer part, there are 12 five-pointed stars, symbol of the EU, and among them, at the bottom, is the mint year.

On the Reverse, the face is the common one for all Eurozone countries. The First series from 1 Euro ranges from 1999 to 2006. The common face represents the Eurozone countries all separated from each other. The Second series runs from 2007 to present and features the common face of the Eurozone countries united, along with the addition of new ones.

• Materials: Bimetallic. Outer part: nickel-brass (copper 75% – zinc 20% – nickel 5%); inner part: copper-nickel (copper 75% – nickel 25%)
• Thickness: 2.33 mm
• Weight: 7.50 g
• Diameter: 23.25 mm
• Edge: Interrupted milled
• Engraver: Joaquim Jimenez

Now let's take a look at the French 2 Euro coins, the circulating ones. If you want to see all the French 2 euro coins, including the commemorative ones, check out this page: 2 Euro Commemorative France.

The 2 Euro France features on the Reverse the common side of the coins from all Eurozone countries. The Obverse instead presents the same design as the French 1 Euro coin. The 2 Euro coin also has two series: The First is from 1999 to 2006, where the common side shows the Eurozone countries separated from each other. The Second is the series minted from 2007 to present that stylizes the Eurozone countries united together with the addition of the new Eurozone countries.

At the center of the coin is a stylized tree that symbolizes life, growth, and continuity. Its trunk is placed in the middle of the initials “RF”, République Française.

The tree is surrounded by the inscription “ Liberté Egalité Fraternité” and is all enclosed in a hexagon. On the edge, decorated with lines, there are 12 five-pointed stars, a symbol of the EU.

The minting year is noted at the bottom, engraved with a star in the middle and the cornucopia, above and next to the first star.

• Materials: Bimetallic. Outer part: copper-nickel (copper 75% – nickel 25%); inner part: nickel-brass (copper 75% – zinc 20% – nickel 5%)
• Thickness: 2.20 mm
• Weight: 8.50 g
• Diameter: 25.75 mm
• Edge: Finely milled with the motif “2” in relief, followed by two five-pointed stars, repeated alternately from bottom to top and vice versa.
• Engraver: Joaquim Jimenez