Coin Pièce France 5 francs Copper-Nickel 1995 A Paris

The 5 Francs Semeuse dated 1995 is a coin issued by the Monnaie de Paris, identified by the mint mark A, corresponding to the Paris mint. It is part of the Semeuse series, one of the most iconic representations in 20th-century French numismatics.

The metallic composition of this coin is copper-nickel, an alloy commonly used for circulation coins due to its resistance to wear. It has a weight of 10 grams and a diameter of 29 millimetres, dimensions that give it a notable presence among coins of the same era.

The obverse of this coin features the Semeuse (the Sower), an allegorical figure originally created by Oscar Roty at the end of the 19th century, later taken up by Louis Oscar Roty and adapted for the various franc series. The Semeuse is depicted in profile, walking into the wind, sowing seeds, with a rising sun in the background. This symbolic figure is closely associated with the French Republic and adorned many French denominations throughout the 20th century.

The reverse indicates the face value of 5 francs, accompanied by the inscription République Française and the date 1995. The coin was struck with a mintage of 19,990,011 pieces, making it a circulation issue produced in large quantities to meet the commercial exchange needs of the time.

This coin belongs to the last decade of circulation of the French franc before the transition to the euro, which took place in 2002. The 1995 vintage thus represents one of the last years of production of this denomination in its standard circulation version.