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Description
The 5 Francs Hercule is a French coin issued under the Third Republic in 1874, struck at the Bordeaux mint, identified by the letter K. This coin type, one of the most iconic in 19th-century French numismatics, was produced to the tune of 4,000,000 specimens for this vintage.
The coin is made of silver with a fineness of 900 thousandths, corresponding to an alloy composed of 90% silver and 10% copper. It has a weight of 24.88 grams and a diameter of 37 millimetres, dimensions characteristic of the large French silver coins of this period.
The obverse of the coin depicts Hercules standing, facing forward, flanked by the allegorical figures of Liberty and Equality, whose hands he joins together. This composition, originally the work of engraver Augustin Dupré, was taken up and adapted for the Third Republic. The legend LIBERTÉ ÉGALITÉ FRATERNITÉ appears on this side of the coin, accompanied by the engraver's signature.
The reverse features the face value of 5 FRANCS inscribed in the centre, surrounded by a floral wreath. It also bears the date 1874, the mint mark K for Bordeaux, as well as the privy marks of the engravers and the mint director.
This coin type was struck almost continuously between 1871 and 1889, making it the principal high-denomination silver coin of the French Third Republic. The Bordeaux mint contributed significantly to the national production of this type, alongside the Paris mint.
