In the aftermath of the French Revolution, in 1795, France instituted a decimal monetary system in which the value of the franc was set at 100 centimes. Gold francs of the early 1800s featured the bust of Napoleon, who ruled for a decade until 1814. Other coins of the 19th century included copper, bronze, and silver centimes, as well as silver and gold francs. Of particular interest to coin collectors are the 50-franc coins from the 1860s, which featured a bust of Napoleon III, his head crowned with a wreath.

Gold was no longer used for circulating French coins by the end of World War I, replaced by metals such as nickel, cupro-nickel, nickel and bronze, and aluminum and bronze. Coins in five-, 10-, and 25-centimes denominations were holed, and during World War II, the occupied Vichy government minted coins out of zinc and aluminum.


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1453, France/england, Henry Vi. Scarce Anglo-gallic Salut Ecu Gold Coin. Rr!France 1810-w (lille Mint) Napoleon Bonaparte Gold 40 FrancsFrance 1804 (an 13) Napoleon Bonaparte Gold 40 Francs *lucernae* France 20 Gold Francs. Louis Xviii, 1817-w, Lille Mint. Lovely Ef+1810-w Gold 20 Francs France, Scarce Mintmark, Napoleon Emperor1987 France Palladium 100 Francs Ngc Pf-69 Ult. Cameo General LafayetteNice X.f. 1834-a France Louis-philippe Gold 40 Francs - Paris Mint 1867 France 20 Francs Gold Bb Choice Ef-45 Km-801.2 Authentic & ScarceGold French Rooster Coin (1912) ~ 20 Francs CoinL@@k ---- 1910 French 20 Franc "rooster" - .1867 Troy Oz. Gold - Bu ---- L@@kL@@k ---- 1914 French 20 Franc "rooster" - Bu - .1867 Troy Oz. Gold ---- L@@kL@@k ---- 1908 French 20 Franc "rooster" - Bu - .1867 Troy Oz. Gold ---- L@@k1877 20 Franc Angel Gold Coin 1/5 Ounce France French - Rare & Uncirculated1866 Bb France 20 Francs .900 Gold 6.45 Grams Napoleon Iii Aunc Coin Rare 1866 French Gold 20 Francs 90% Gold 6.45 Grams Littleton Coin Company1862 Gold 20-franc Of France; Higher Grade; 1/5 Oz Gold; Napoleon IiiFrance 3 X 1.5 Euro Asterix 2007 In Luxury Package Only 100 Pieces!!2009 France 3 X 1.5 Euro Jules Verne 2005 In Luxury Package Only 50 Pieces!!1704-1709-a France Louis Xiv Ecu Paris Mint Scarce Coin,originaly Toned Vf-axf.2009 France 1864-a Gold 10 Francs- Emperor Napoleon Iii1943-44 Luxembourg 5/10/20/50 Francs (crisp Beauties ) Awesome No Reserve1792, France (1st Republic), Louis Xvi. Large Silver Ecu (6 Livres) Coin. Rare!France France 2009 10 Euro Astronomy Proof SilverMonaco 10 Euro Wedding Charlene And Albert 2011 Only 4.000 Pieces Proof1800, Italy, Milan, Napoleon Bonaparte. Assasination Attempt Survival Medal. Xf!France 10 Francs Gold Rooster 1900 19 Mm. 3.2258 Grams //n20 Francs 1874 Angel1894 Sadi Carnot Funeral Medal By Oscar Roty (france 1898) Museum Quality Nr1808, Italy (kingdom Of Napoleon). Large Silver 5 Lire Coin. Vf+France 1,5France Swiss Louis Xv Ecu Du Bearn 1753 Pau Choice1890 Paris Committee Visit To America Silver Medal (30.4mm Awesome) No ReserveHuguenin Fr1722/1 H French Colonies 9 Deniers! Ngc Vg-10 Bn! Very Nice! Must See!! France Louis Xv Ecu Au Bandeau 1758 Paris High GradeFrench Empire Francais 10 Francs 585 14k Gold Bezel Necklace PendantFrance 1814 M 5 Francs - Silver (24.0 G) Km#694.10***rare*** 1812 D France Lyon Mint Crown Silver 5 Francs Dollar Size #v27France 1814 H 5 Francs - Silver (24.5 G) Km#694.6France 1814 I 5 Francs - Silver (24.5 G) Km#694.7France 1814 Q 5 Francs - Silver (24.8 G) Km#694.12France Louis Xv Ecu Aux Lauriers 1735 Riom RareFrance Louis Xv Ecu Au Bandeau 1764 Bayonne High GradeFrance Swiss Louis Xv Ecu Du Bearn 1757 Pau RareFrance Silver 5 Francs Napoleon Iii 1867 Bb + 2 Francs 1869 Remarked Sedan Rare France Louis Xv Ecu Au Bandeau 1766 Montpellier NiceFrance Swiss Louis Xv Ecu Du Bearn 1758 Pau ScarceSilver 2001 Un Ultime Franc; .980 Pure & Uncirculated1812, Italy (kingdom Of Napoleon). Scarce Silver 2 Lire Coin. Xf-1869-a France Napoleon 5 Francs Silver Crown Au/uncFrance 1662 B - 1/2 Ecu Louis Xiv Buste Juvenile Silver Coin Rare ( Lot 3 )French Polynesia; New Caledonia & New Herbrides (1966-1967) Fdc Set (no Box)France-1996-1 1/2 Euros-km#1121-.9000 Silver Proof- Ingres Nude "water Bearer"1757, Royal France, Louis Xv. Silver Ecu (french Dollar) Coin. Rennes Mint!France 1811 - 2 Francs Napoleon 1er Silver Coin Rare ( Lot 4 )929, France, Carolingian Empire, Charles "the Simple". Silver Denier Coin. R!France 10 Francs, 1965 Huge 90% Silver Coin Crown Or Dollar Size Gem Unc Bu Ms +1790, Royal France, Louis Xvi. Beautiful Silver Masonic Medallet (jetton) Coin.