Sell a silver 5 francs écu
The large French five-franc piece of the nineteenth century, popularly called the écu. Twenty-five grams of silver, struck under almost every French regime.
- Purity
- 900‰
- Country
- France
- Silver rate
- €1.75/g
What do we pay for a silver 5 francs (écu)?
Based on the silver rate of this moment, €1.75 per gram of fine material. As of:
| Variant | Fine silver | Total weight | We pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 francs | 22.5 g | 25 g | €37.74 |
This price applies regardless of the year and the mint. With a rare year or exceptional condition the collector’s value can be higher than the material value – then we say so, even if that means you are better off not selling us the coin.
How we arrive at this amount
A coin is precious metal in a recognisable shape. What it fetches therefore depends almost entirely on the fine weight: the weight of pure silver it contains.
This coin is 900‰ pure. The rest of the alloy – usually copper – makes it harder and scratch-resistant, but has no value. That is why we calculate on the fine weight and not on what the scales say.
From the Republic through Napoleon and the kings to the Hercules group of the Third Republic: all 25 grams of 900 silver.
Not sure whether your coin is genuine? We check weight, diameter, thickness and – if in doubt – the density with X-ray analysis. Non-destructive: your coin stays intact.
Also have a look at today’s silver rate or all silver prices.
One coin, many portraits
The 5 franc écu began under the Republic with the Hercules group, continued under Napoleon, Louis XVIII, Charles X and Louis-Philippe, and ended in 1878 with the Hercules group once more. Throughout, the weight stayed at 25 grams of 900 silver. So whatever the portrait, we settle on the same silver.
Wear and collector value
Many écus circulated for decades and therefore weigh slightly less than 25 grams. We weigh them one by one or as a lot and settle on the actual weight.
An écu in exceptional condition, or from a mint with a small output, can fetch more. The valuer reads the mint mark and tells you.
How to sell your silver 5 francs (écu)
From walking in to being paid usually takes less than half an hour.
Do not polish it
With collector coins, cleaning can push the value down considerably. A natural patina belongs to them.
Bring it in
With or without an appointment, at one of our 45 locations. If the coin is in a holder, leave it in there.
We assess two values
The precious metal and what the coin itself does: year, mintage and condition. You get the higher of the two.
Paid out straight away
In cash or by bank transfer. Larger amounts reach your account within 24 hours.
Also of interest
- Silver rate todayThe current silver rate per gram and per kilo, updated every minute.View
- All silver pricesWhat we pay per carat or alloy.View
- All coins and barsThe complete list of purchase prices per piece.View
- Spot price, premium and spreadWhy you never get back the premium you paid on purchase.View
Questions about selling silver 5 francs (écu)
How much silver is in a 5 francs écu?
An unworn piece weighs 25 grams and contains 22.5 grams of fine silver.
Are Belgian and Swiss five-franc pieces the same?
For the silver, yes. Within the Latin Monetary Union they had the same weight and fineness.
My coin has a hole, do you buy those too?
Yes. A hole or wear only costs the silver that is missing; we weigh the coin as it is.
Are écus with Napoleon worth more?
Not automatically. It depends on date, mint and condition. The valuer assesses that coin by coin.
Is your question not listed? Ask it below, call 085 060 3009 or go to contact.
A question about silver 5 francs (écu)?
Ask it here. You will receive a personal reply by email, usually within one working day – no automated message and no phone call you did not ask for.
- An answer from a valuer, not from a template
- We keep your question so that you need not repeat anything
- No sales pitch afterwards
Sources
Where you can verify what you have just read.
- Koninklijke Nederlandse MuntThe mint that struck the Dutch coins and knows their fineness
- De Nederlandsche BankOn the guilder and exchanging old legal tender
- WaarborgHollandThe Dutch assay office that verifies fineness and strikes hallmarks
Have your silver 5 francs (écu) valued?
Free and without obligation, at a location near you.