The 5-franc Hercules — Hercules standing between Liberty and Equality, engraved by Augustin Dupré — is one of the most iconic French silver coins, first created in the Revolutionary era and struck as the 5-franc piece across the Second Republic, Second Empire, and Third Republic. Big, heavy, and unmistakable, it is a cornerstone of any French type set. This entry covers its specifications, minting span, and the design’s symbolism.
Key facts
- Specifications: 25g, .900 fine silver, 37mm diameter (e.g., 1849-A Paris documented at exactly this spec).
- Obverse: Hercules with Liberty and Equality, legend LIBERTÉ ÉGALITÉ FRATERNITÉ; reverse: 5 FRANCS within a wreath, RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE.
- Struck 1848–1878 across the Second Republic, Second Empire, and Third Republic.
- The Hercules design was revived under the Fifth Republic.