1 franc FRANCE (1995) Institut de France

in the coin centre the dome of Institut de France divides face value: 1 / F (FRANC), along the top edge in two lines: • RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE • / INSTITUT DE FRANCE (French Republic, Institut de France); on the bottom year of issue 1995

in the coin centre inside a rectangle burning fasces lictoriae, around four sides of rectangle inscription: INSTITVT / NATIONAL / DES SCIENCES / ET ARTS (National Institute of Science and Arts); on the sides and above laurel branches; on the bottom date: 1795; along the bottom edge motto of France: LIBERTÉ - ÉGALITÉ - FRATERNITÉ (liberty, equality, fraternity)

reeded

???  no data

18 II 2002

Raymond Corbin (initials R.C. divided by the institute's dome on the bottom of the obverse)

La Monnaie de Paris (The Paris Mint), Pessac (mint mark before year 1795 in the reverse, after year 1795 privy mark of mint's director Pierre Rodier - bee)

1995

4 976 011

Privy marks of the general engravers of the Mint of Paris, which can be found on French coins produced after 1944:

Lucien Bazor	1931-1958		wing
Raymond Joly	1958-1974		owl
Emile Rousseau	1974-1994		dolphin
Pierre Rodier	1994-2000		bee
Gérard Buquoy	2001-2002		horseshoe
Serge Levet	2003		heart
Hubert Larivière	2004-2010		horn
Yves Sampo	from 2011		rosette

The commemorative coin of 1 franc from 1995 commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Institut de France. This French scientific society was founded on October 25, 1795 and brings together five academies (académies), of which the most famous and oldest is the French Academy. The seat of the Institute is located on the southern bank of Seine vis-à-vis the Louvre. Both buildings are connected by the famous bridge Pont des Arts. Below a picture of the dome of Institut de France.


photo licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0

Fasces lictoriae was a symbol of power in the Roman Empire. Lictors were leading procession of rulers and officials carrying in hands the rods and an ax tied together with a strap. Amount of rods was related to the position in the political hierarchy. The symbolism of fasces was adapted by the Republicans and the fasces is today placed in French Coat of Arms. The word fasces gave the name to a political system - fascism.

Roman lictor carrying fasces.


photo licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0

The Paris Mint (La Monnaie de Paris) dating back to the 6th century is the oldest French institution, and some would say - oldest institution in the world. The mint office is located in the center of Paris in a complex called Hotel des Monnaies, which was opened on December 20, 1775. A cornucopia is the symbol placed on any coin minted by the Paris Mint from January 1, 1880. The second character visible on coins was a symbol of the general engraver (Graveur general). The tradition of this job dates back to 1547 when Henry II of Valois appointed a general engraver as the only person authorized to create the king's portrait. Only the design prepared by the general engraver could have been copied to the coins stamps in national mints. Starting from 2001, the heads of engravers workshop in the Paris Mint do not hold this traditional title anymore, but their privy marks still appear on French coins next to the mint mark.

The name of the French mint - La Monnaie de Paris - suggests that the plant producing coins is located in the French capital. This is however, only the company name and factories were placed in various French cities. At the moment, the only place producing coins of France (and of some other countries) is Pessac near Bordeaux.