50 euro cent FRANCE (1999-2002)

in coin centre personification of France - simplified figure of Marianne in Phrygian cap sowing cereal leftwards (La Semeuse), in the background the Sun hidden mostly below the horizon; on the right letters: RF (RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE - French Republic); on the left year of issue; at the edge a ring of twelve five-pointed stars - symbol of the European Union

right from the coin centre face value: 50, below in two lines: EURO / CENT; on the left a simplified map of Europe showing borders of countries - members of the EU in 1999; in the background of the map vertically six parallel lines ending on both sides with five-pointed stars (the reverse is common for all euro coins)

reeded

1 I 2002

in circulation

Laurent Jorio based on the design of Loius Oscar Roty (vertically over RF in the obverse signature L.JORIO D'AP.O.ROTY - D'APRÉS OSCAR ROTY - based on Oscar Roty), Luc Luycx (initials LL after 50 in the reverse)

La Monnaie de Paris (The Paris Mint), Pessac (mint mark before the Marianne's feet in the obverse, after Marianne's feet privy mark of mint's director Pierre Rodier - bee - in years 1999-2000, or Gérard Buquoy - horseshoe - in years 2001-2002, or Serge Levet - heart - in 2003, or Hubert Larivière - horn - in years 2004-2006)

1999	105 753 600	bee	+ 35 000 in annual boxed sets
2000	179 496 000	bee	+ 35 000 in annual boxed sets
2001	276 252 274	horseshoe	+ 35 000 in annual boxed sets
2002	226 384 000	horseshoe	+ 165 290 in annual boxed sets
2003	-	heart	+ 242 342 in annual boxed sets
2004	-	horn	+ 160 000 in annual boxed sets
2005	-	horn	+ 120 000 in annual boxed sets
2006	-	horn	+ 80 000 in annual boxed sets