How to Identify the French Semeuse 5 Francs
Spot the silver French 5-franc Sower coin by its left-striding Semeuse, flowered wreath reverse, silver colour and Fifth Republic legends.
Read the full French Semeuse 5 Francs encyclopedia entry →
Begin with the Sower. The obverse must show the Semeuse — a woman in a long dress striding to the left, arm extended, scattering seed, with sun rays behind her and REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE around the edge. This figure, and the direction she walks, is the fastest confirmation that you have a French Sower coin rather than a portrait or allegorical head from another country.
Check the reverse and value. Turn the coin over to confirm the denomination: 5 FRANCS encircled by a wreath of flowering branches, with the motto LIBERTÉ ÉGALITÉ FRATERNITÉ. The Sower appears on several French denominations, so reading the value is essential — the flowered wreath around a clear "5 FRANCS" distinguishes this coin from the smaller Semeuse pieces such as the 1, 2 or ½ franc.
Confirm metal and size. The silver type reads bright and pale silvery-white, feels solid and dense for its diameter, and rings differently from base metal. This colour and heft separate the genuine silver Semeuse 5 Francs from the later, larger nickel-clad or cupro-nickel 5-franc Sower coins that share a similar design but are lighter in tone and struck in base metal. If the coin is silvery but noticeably lighter and larger, it may be the later non-silver type.
Read the date and mint marks. The date sits with the obverse legend; the silver run covers only a few years, so the year pins the coin to the correct type. Small privy marks (a cornucopia and an engraver's symbol) near the reverse rim are normal French mint marks, not damage — they help confirm authenticity and the issuing mint.
Watch for look-alikes and fakes. Because it contains silver, this coin is occasionally counterfeited or confused with the base-metal version. Compare weight, diameter and colour against a reference example of the same date; be wary of pieces that are the wrong weight, have a dull or plated surface, or show mushy detail. For a coin claimed to be a scarce date or high grade, verify against trusted references or seek third-party authentication rather than relying on appearance alone.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell the silver 5 Francs from the later base-metal one?
By metal and weight. The silver type is bright silvery-white and dense for its size; the later Sower 5-franc is a larger, lighter base-metal coin. Colour, heft and date together separate them.
Which way does the Sower face on this coin?
She strides to the left, scattering seed with the sun's rays behind her, beneath the legend REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE. A left-facing striding figure is the signature of the Semeuse design.
What are the small symbols near the rim?
They are French mint privy marks, typically a cornucopia and an engraver's mark. They are a normal part of the coin, not damage, and help confirm the mint and authenticity.
Could a Sower coin be a different denomination?
Yes. The Sower appears on several French coins, so always read the value. Only the piece marked 5 FRANCS inside a flowered wreath is this type; smaller values are different coins.