Silver 5-Franc Coin: Why Old Coins Can Be Worth Hundreds

Many people keep old coins simply out of habit: as mementoes from great-grandparents, as leftover cash from long-ago holidays, or because the coins were withdrawn from circulation at some point. Earlier silver 5-franc coins can prove to be a particularly fortunate find, as certain years now command prices far above their face value.

How a forgotten silver 5-franc coin can become a source of money

The situation is familiar: while tidying up, someone comes across a glass jar filled with old coins. Usually, the coins are put straight back into the cupboard, with the thought that they cannot possibly be worth anything. Numismatics specialists – experts in coins and currency – regularly see a very different outcome.

Families often take entire jars of 5-franc coins from the 1960s to coin dealers. They expect a purely token sum, yet leave with a welcome amount of extra money because the coins contain silver. Some examples stand out more than others.

“In the best-case scenario, one particular silver 5-franc coin can fetch not just a few euros, but several hundred.”

The reason is straightforward: some of these old coins are made from genuine silver. For one specific year in particular, especially where the coin is well preserved, collectors are prepared to pay substantial premiums.

Why old francs are worth more than their face value today

Although the franc era has passed, the coins themselves certainly have not. According to the French central bank and the professional numismatists' association, the value of these older pieces is no longer determined by the denomination stamped on them. Instead, it depends mainly on two factors: metal content and rarity.

• Metal content: A coin containing silver already has a base value as scrap metal.
• Rarity: A year with a small mintage can command a higher collector price.
• Condition: The closer a coin looks to new, the more highly the market tends to value it.

For many common 5-franc coins from the 1960s, prices generally fall somewhere between €7 and €15 each, depending on condition and the daily silver price. That is well above their former face value, and a larger quantity can quickly add up to a noticeable sum.

How to identify the sought-after silver 5-franc coin

France struck a silver 5-franc coin between 1959 and 1969 which is highly regarded by collectors. It has several very distinct features, making it relatively easy to distinguish from later and less valuable versions.

Key features at a glance

• Diameter: approximately 29 millimetres
• Weight: around 12 grams
• Fineness: 835 ‰ silver, equivalent to just over 10 grams of pure silver
• Years minted: 1959 to 1969

The obverse shows the celebrated “Sower” design by artist Oscar Roty. The capped female figure walks to the left while scattering seeds, surrounded by the inscription of the Republic. On the reverse, the denomination “5 F” appears alongside a cornucopia, a small bird and a bouquet of wheat ears, an olive branch and oak leaves.

The coin’s edge offers another useful clue: it bears the well-known national motto, separated by small stars. This edge design is also a feature of the silver issue.

Avoiding confusion with later issues

After 1970, France changed to a different alloy. The newer 5-franc coins were made from copper-nickel and therefore had virtually no precious-metal value. Although they look similar, two differences can easily be checked at home:

• Weight: The silver version weighs 12 grams, while the copper-nickel version weighs only 10 grams.
• Edge: The motto is raised on the silver coin, whereas the later issue has a plain reeded edge.

Anyone finding a 5-franc coin with edge lettering dated from 1959 to 1969 is therefore very likely holding a silver coin.

Prices: from silver value to the sought-after 1959 rarity

The market for these coins is constantly changing. The silver price establishes the minimum value: when the price rises, the base prices for ordinary years increase automatically as well. Dealers generally pay low double-digit amounts for common 1960s mint years, with a little more available for especially fresh examples.

Things become truly interesting with the first year of issue, 1959. A small preliminary series of only around 4,000 coins was produced that year. These coins are considered desirable rarities. Examples in very good condition regularly achieve €200 to €250 in the trade, and occasionally more.

“The 1959 mint year in particular can turn an apparently ordinary find into a surprisingly valuable rarity.”

Condition has a major influence on the price. Specialists use set grading categories:

Grade	Description
B	Clearly circulated, with many marks and worn details
TTB	The design remains distinct, but visible signs of wear are present
SUP	Almost uncirculated, with only minor scratches or scuffs
SPL / FDC	Proof-like lustre, virtually as fresh as it left the mint

As a practical rule of thumb, dealers often point to one detail: on a well-preserved coin, the upper part of the Sower figure’s left sleeve should still be clearly visible. If this feature has disappeared, the value falls noticeably.

Checking your own coins in a few steps

Anyone now heading for the coin drawer should take a methodical approach. A simple process can identify the coins that are worth having professionally valued.

Step-by-step checks at home

• Set aside all 5-franc coins with a mint year before 1970.
• Inspect the edge lettering: does it carry a motto, or is the edge merely reeded?
• Weigh the coin as accurately as possible: 12 grams indicates silver, whereas 10 grams generally does not.
• Assess its overall condition: are the details sharp, or does the design look flat and worn?
• Compare the mint year with current catalogues or online price lists.

If a promising example remains after these checks – especially one dated 1959 – it is worth consulting an expert. Coin dealers and specialist purchasing outlets often provide free assessments. Their feedback can prevent poor decisions, whether the coin is being sold or insured.

The most common mistake: well-meant cleaning destroys value

Many owners want to make their old silver coins look nice before having them valued. That can cause considerable damage. Cleaning products containing abrasives, polishing cloths and chemical baths remove the natural patina – the light, often greyish sheen that develops over decades.

“A supposedly ‘spotlessly polished’ silver coin can lose up to half of its market value.”

Experts therefore advise leaving intensive cleaning alone. Carefully wiping away dust with a soft cloth is entirely sufficient. Any more forceful treatment leaves traces that collectors can spot immediately and will clearly deduct from the price.

How to avoid a rushed sale

Anyone who discovers a potential rarity should not hand it over for small change at the nearest car boot sale. In such settings, both buyers and sellers often lack the knowledge needed to establish a fair price. It is better to compare at least two offers from dealers or precious-metal buyers.

Patience is especially worthwhile for coins in very good condition. Some owners even choose to keep individual coins for the time being, selling only the remainder at the pure silver price. This preserves the potential for future price increases while still making some of the money available now.

Why every old drawer can be worth checking

To many people, old coins initially look like nothing more than clutter. Yet silver 5-franc coins combine nostalgia with a hard material value. By checking their finds systematically, owners can quickly establish whether only the melt value matters or whether a sought-after rarity is sitting in the jar.

For newcomers to numismatics, a coin like this often opens the door to a new hobby: they learn to read mint years, spot subtle edge details and understand price lists. Even those with no wish to collect benefit from this basic knowledge. It helps protect them from impulsive quick sales where somebody else ultimately makes the substantial profit.

So, when an old tin of coins turns up during the spring clean, remember three points: examine dates before 1970 more closely, check the silver weight and have unusually well-preserved pieces inspected by an expert. In some cases, one almost forgotten 5-franc coin is worth more than everything else in the drawer combined.