Coin France 10 Francs - Hercules - 1965 - Silver

The 1965 10 Francs ?Hercules? coin marks the official beginning of this famous silver series under the Fifth Republic. It echoes the historical type created in 1796 by the engraver Augustin Dupré, a strong symbol of French revolutionary values. This issue inaugurates a series that would be struck until 1973 and become one of the most emblematic coins of the modern franc.

The obverse features the famous scene known as ?Hercules union and strength?. Hercules, a mythological figure, unites the allegories of Liberty (holding a pike topped with the Phrygian cap) and Equality (holding a level). This composition symbolizes the unity of the French people around republican values. The motto ?LIBERTÉ ÉGALITÉ FRATERNITÉ? surrounds the whole, reinforcing the political and philosophical significance of the coin.

The reverse adopts a more classic presentation with the value ?10 FRANCS?, surrounded by a wreath of oak and laurel, symbolizing strength and victory respectively. The inscription ?RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE? as well as the vintage 1965 complete the composition in a balanced and typically republican style.

From a technical point of view, this coin is struck in 900? silver, with a weight of 25 grams and a diameter of 37 mm, i.e. about 22.5 g of pure silver. It has an edge richly decorated with symbols related to agriculture, commerce and industry, reflecting the economic pillars of the country.

The vintage 1965, the first year of current production, shows a large mintage of approximately 8 million copies, which makes it a relatively accessible coin today. However, as with the entire series, the rise in the price of silver in the 1970s led to its gradual disappearance from circulation, before its demonetization in 1980.

From a numismatic point of view, the 1965 10 Francs Hercules is particularly sought after as the first vintage of the series. It combines a powerful historical design, a high silver content and a strong symbolic dimension linked to republican origins.

Finally, for the collector, this coin is an essential basis. Both accessible and full of history, it represents the starting point of a mythical series, often collected both for its aesthetics, its precious metal and its importance in French monetary history.