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5 francs Semeuse Essai Argent grand 5
| Issuer | Monnaie de Paris |
|---|---|
| Year | 1959 |
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| Value | 5 Francs (5 FRF) |
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| Obverse description | The allegorical figure of the Semeuse (the Sower), after the celebrated design by Louis-Oscar Roty, strides barefoot to the right, her flowing robes and hair windswept, scattering seeds from a sack carried over her left shoulder. Radiant lines emanate from the horizon behind her, evoking the dawn of the Republic. The word ESSAI appears in the left field, confirming the pattern status of this strike. The circular legend REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE runs along the rim, divided to either side of the figure. The engraver's signature O. ROTY is inscribed at the base of the design. |
|---|---|
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| Mintage | 1959 - (fr) Essai - 5 du millésime grand - 2,800 |
| Additional information |
The Semeuse essai pieces of 1959 were produced as pattern trials during the coinage reform that accompanied the establishment of the Fifth Republic and the introduction of the nouveau franc. Monnaie de Paris struck multiple essai variants that year — differing in the rendering of the numeral, edge treatment, and metal — to evaluate design options before committing to production dies. This "grand 5" designation distinguishes it from the concurrent "petit 5" trial by the enlarged numeral on the reverse.
Essais from this transitional moment were distributed in small quantities to collectors and institutional recipients rather than circulated, which explains their consistent preservation. The Gad 1789 reference alone lists several distinct varieties from this single year of trials.