#worldcoinwednesday: 1965 French 10 Franc Hercules Silver Circulation Strike

”Black birds tend to like Shiny Things.” ~ The Bloody Raven

Yes, I had my eye on one good specimen and I finally picked one up. There are so many points of interest about this coin regarding its design, history, and varieties I can’t begin to scratch the surface so I better keep it brief and simple.

This beautiful Crown sized coin is remarkably more common than I thought with circulated coins going for a modest premium above spot so I decided to go with a better quality uncirculated coin while this coin had some white spotting which took away some eye appeal it didn’t really affect the overall grade, Perhaps I should have spent a bit more for my Numismatist side rather than my Stacker side.

The Big French Coin

1965 French 10 francs

Reverse; Wreath, Denomination and Date

Silver 0.900, 25g

37mm Diameter, 3mm Thickness

Again the coin’s matte finish tends to make photography a bit difficult to get a good shot or two. In my research one surprise about this coin is that it remained legal tender up to 1980, well past the time all other countries had fully long gone fiat as far as circulating strikes are concerned. Though silver bullion value was less than face value plenty of these coins where scurried away in hoards and thus many good quality coins are readily available. And, !980 is about the time Silver bullion prices spiked to $50 per ounce, chances are many lower grade coins may have been melted down for bullion leaving the more quality collectibles.

Now for the big money obverse side.

1965 French 10 francs

Obverse; Hercules and a pair of fair Maidens

Legend; LIBERTE EGALITE FRATERNITE

KM# 932, Schön# 236, Gad# 813, F# 364

Mintage of 8,085,500

Engraver; Dupré

The new coinage is a refreshing change in coinage is the lack of the ruling Monarch’s bust. No surprise following the birth of the fledgling new Republic we can begin to understand why the allegorical trio was used in place of the monarch. In 1791 a competition was organized for new coin designs for a proposed new currency and economic reform of the new Republic. The currency will see a gradual change from the old Livres into the French Republic’s Franc.

Augustin Dupré was already a known as fine Engraver of medals began his Engraving career in Arms manufacturing. An examples of his previous works were medals commissioned by the brand new United States government, one is the 1783 [Libertas Americana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Libertas_Americana_silver_medallion_1783.jpg} purportedly designed and commissioned this medal and had met the visiting Benjamin Franklin serving as Ambassador to France.
His Hercules design is a fine example of art work drawing inspiration from the Neo-classical arts. This original design persisted 200 years coming back again over the decades and years. While the allegorical Representation of the French Republic's Marieanne tend to change having different forms over the five successive Republics over the years but this original Dupré Hercules design always remained.

Liberty Leading the People

Artist: Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix 1830 under [Public Domain]

Though the French personification of Marianne was the popular representation of Liberty, Fraternity, Equality Augustine Dupré chose to portray the new Republics motto into three allegorical figures. Liberty with her Pikestaff and Phrygian cap, the trio are collectively representative of Fraternity, Equality is represented by the woman on the right holding an architectural scale.

Meanwhile, the appeal of the allegory of the Goddess of Liberty continued in popularity being adopted by more and more New World countries, each gaining their own Independence over the following century.

1965 French 10 francs

Edge; Geometric markings

I think the video shows the coin a little better that a photo.

Some closing thoughts on this coin

I admit that this coin has become one of my favorites and prompts me to look for a 1974-1980 50 Franc coin for my collection. Just like the one @thekittygirl posted not very long ago.

The Neo-Classical Allegory style has an enduring appeal such that I ponder if it is the original inspiration for the latest Germania Allegorical Series? If you’re a Stacker and budding Numismatist like me, I think so. What do you think? Please comment below.

Iterations of the Hercules Obverse on French coinage

5 FRANCS First Republic 1795-1802 5 FRANCS Second Republic 1848-1849 5 Francs Third Republic 1870-1889 10 FRANCS Fifth republic 1965 to 1973 50 FRANCS Fifth Republic 1974 to 1980
5 FRANCS Fifth Republic 1996 200th Anniversary Commemorative

Now for those into the pretty Banknotes

1929 New Caledonia 20 Francs

Front; VINGT FRANCS, Watermark of Asian Man on left, Woman on Right

BANQUE DE L’INDOCHINE

Series; 1926-1929, P 37a, KM 413

1929 New Caledonia 20 Francs

Back; NOUMEA, Peacock, Butterflies and flora, 20 FR

Printer; CI Serveau & E. Deloche

Watermark of Asian Man on right

Translated as,“Article 139 of Penal Code punishes with the forced labor those who counterfeits or falsifies the bills of the banks authorized by the Law;”
A pretty cool old note! I want to give a Special Thank you to my friend Punky’s Dad for loaning me this French Colonial note, and I wish you would sign up on Hive.io PD. I know you will be reading this. Hint hint.

And to everyone…

Thank you dropping in on my article and have an awesome day!

The #worldcoinwednesday tag is one of many strategic tags hatched by none other than the TAG MASTER @silverd510 to take over the all social block chains one post at a time. Give in to the Master and reveal your wondrous silver world coins.

References

My own pictures shot with a Samsung SM-A530W

P. Image under Pixabay

R. Clip art from 123RF

W. Wiki Commons

Sources

Wiki: Augustine Dupre

Wiki: Marianne

Govt of France: Marieanne

Numista: 1965 French 10 Francs

Coins Home: 1965 10 Francs

Real Banknotes: 1929 New Caledonia 20 Francs

Hanoi.com: 1929 New Caledonia 20 Francs

Banner by @thekittygirl

“Et lux in tenebris to serve laboro, sum sicarius” “I work in the shadows to serve the Light, I am an Assassin”