5 francs FRANCE (1996) Hercules of Augustin Dupré

in the coin centre in two lines face value: 5 / FRANCS, below year of issue 1996; all this surrounded by a wreath of laurel and oak branches; along the left edge: RÉPUBLIQUE, along the right one: FRANÇAISE * (French Republic); ring of pearls at the edge

in the coin centre figure of Hercules en face between godesses of Liberty and Justice; along the top edge motto of France: LIBERTÉ ÉGALITÉ FRATERNITÉ (liberty, equality, fraternity); ring of pearls at the edge

reeded

???  no data

18 II 2002

Atelier de gravure (group of designers of the Paris Mint) based on design of Augustin Dupré (stylised signature DUPRÉ below Hercules in the reverse)

La Monnaie de Paris (The Paris Mint), Pessac (mint mark on the bottom of the obverse on the left, on the right privy mark of mint's director Pierre Rodier - bee)

1994

4 978 743

+ 2 500 in boxed sets

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 5 francs from 1996 commemorates the 200th anniversary of the issue into circulation of coins designed by Augustin Dupré. Hercules between the goddesses of Liberty and Justice appeared on obverses of silver 5-franc coins already in 1796 and since then has repeatedly decorated the subsequent series of French coins.

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.