The reverse evokes both the Consulate and First Empire time with Napoleon Bonaparte on his horse and the Great Army. The obverse and the reverse of a Germinal Franc are represented on the coin. Significant facts of this time are highlighting as: the Legion of Honor, the bee and the bay crown. The obverse depicts Roty's Sower in a more contemporary setting; encircled by the twelve stars of the European flag, the feminine figure is framed with a heraldic French flag, as well as by the yeardate on each side of her legs. Both mintmarks from Monnaie de Paris and the engraving workshop are located under the Sower's feet, the legal mention RF under her right arm.
The sower - the germinal franc
In 2014, Monnaie de Paris introduced a new theme within the Sower series, depicting over seven years the most historically significant coins of France's history. The design is inspired from the ancient coins, without carbon-copying it. It's a tribute to those currencies which have strongly contributed to France's political and economic evolution. In 2019, Monnaie de Paris presents the Germinal Franc.
In 2014, Monnaie de Paris introduced a new theme within the Sower series, depicting over seven years the most historically significant coins of France's history. The design is inspired from the ancient coins, without carbon-copying it. It's a tribute to those currencies which have strongly contributed to France's political and economic evolution. In 2019, Monnaie de Paris presents the Germinal Franc.
La Semeuse est un motif emblématique de l’histoire numismatique française depuis plus d’un siècle.
À l'origine la Semeuse fut pensée par Oscar Roty pour une médaille du Ministère de l'Agriculture en 1887, non éditée.
En 1896, quand le ministre des Finances Paul Doumer commande de nouvelles pièces, Roty fait partie des artistes choisis et propose une nouvelle version de la Semeuse qui est retenue. Elle apparaît pour la première fois sur des pièces de monnaies courantes.
Depuis 2002, elle est réintroduite par la Monnaie de Paris sur une série de monnaies de collection classiques.
Elle est aussi utilisée à partir de 1903 sur les timbres-poste.