The first 1-franc coin was minted in 1795. Explore More: 10 of the Most Valuable Pennies Today, many French coins prized by dealers and collectors date to 1800 or earlier, though a few were minted ...

If you’re lucky enough to come across the right coin, you could become nearly half-a-million dollars richer. As CoinValueLookup noted, French coinage has a long and tumultuous history.

While the franc remains the official currency of 25 states or autonomous territories, according to the American Numismatic Society, the switch to the euro essentially ended a centuries-long era of ...