1952 France 50 Francs KM# 918.1

Among the coins in my collection, one coin stands out — not because it is intrinsically valuable (which it isn't), but because of who gave it to me. Sometime during my childhood, my paternal grandmother (i.e., father's mother) gave me this coin.

I don't remember how old I was when she gave me this coin, but perhaps it was during my High School years, as that is when I was taking French classes for my foreign language requirement. And maybe that is what motivated her to gift it to me? (Je l'aimais tellement, j'ai pris trois ans, mais j'en ai oublié la majeure partie au cours des quarante-sept dernières années, malheureusement.)

Also, where she got the coin remains a mystery; perhaps she told me at the time, but I don't recall. I know one of my uncles served in World War II and spent combat-time in France, but this coin was minted after the war. Another of my uncles was in the navy (a career officer) and traveled some, so perhaps he brought it back in the 1950s or 1960s, after some of his travels?

As already stated, this coin does not have much intrinsic value, as it was minted from an aluminum-bronze alloy, with no silver content. Since France adopted the Euro in 1999, the franc has been denometized, leaving only "collector value" in having the coin in one's collection. Maximum estimated value of this coin is currently USD $4.56, depending on condition. ^[1]  But, I cherish it because my grandmother — the only one I ever knew, as my other grandmother passed when I was but three years old and I don't remember her — gave it to me!


The woman depicted on the obverse (front) of the coin is Marianne, a variation of the Goddess of Liberty and the personification of the Republic of France, or "RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE" as stamped on the coin. Barely visible on my specimen is the name of the engraver, "G GUIRAUD" for Georges Guiraud, behind Marianne's head.


The reverse (back) of the coin features the Gallic Rooster, another symbol of France. The coin's denomination "50 FRANCS" appears to the right of the rooster. Beneath that is the year of minting (1952, on my coin) and beneath that is the mark of the mint: "B" (for Beaumont-le-Roger, a commune /township in the Normandy region of northern France). A laurel sprig appears beneath the rooster, and across the bottom of the coin is the motto of the French Republic: "LIBERTÉ, ÉGALITÉ, FRATERNITÉ" (oddly, without the diacritical marks) which means: "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity." ^[2]


Thanks for enjoying this lovely, old coin with me! I have several other French coins which I will post at later dates. Only one other French coin in my collection is as striking as this one, though, a recent gift from @brittandjosie.