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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;brg5658, post: 2103040, member: 29751&quot;]Some 3 years ago I decided to work (slowly) on a date series set of France 1 Franc Sowers (semeuse in French) from 1898-1920.&nbsp; The design is one that I have long counted among my favorites of modern world coins.&nbsp; Beyond the design of this series, I am a fan of the artistry of Louis-Oscar Roty in general.&nbsp; It helps that I share the same birthday with Roty (June 11th), but I was also fascinated by his influence on Victor David Brenner (of Lincoln Cent fame), and the eventual importance of the Sower in influencing the design of the US Walking Liberty Half dollar (another one of my favorite designs).</p><p><br /></p><p>The silver 1 Franc coin was issued each year from 1898 through 1920.&nbsp; The &quot;keys&quot; of the set are 1900, 1903, and the 1914-C; each with relatively small mintages and quite difficult (and pricey) in MS grades.</p><p><br /></p><p>My set is still small, but this week I was very pleased to add a matte proof 1 Franc from 1898 to my growing set (proofs were struck only for years 1898 and 1900).&nbsp; It is a nice juxtaposition with my regular strike 1898 coin.&nbsp; I have been very picky about coins I acquire for this set, so that makes the progress even slower...but I&#039;m going for a particular &quot;look&quot; to the set and I&#039;m in no hurry.</p><p><br /></p><p>Thanks for looking, and if you have any Sowers please post them here!&nbsp; I can&#039;t get enough of the design!</p><p><br /></p><p>Regards, Brandon</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb364/brg5658/Photography-5/1898_France_1F_NGC_PF64MATTE_composite_zpsdwfkbkn7.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><img src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb364/brg5658/Photography-3/1898_France_1Franc_NGC_MS65_composite_zps0a78c33f.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><img src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb364/brg5658/Photography-4/1914_France_1Franc_NGC_MS64_composite_zps86ae1b9c.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><img src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb364/brg5658/Photography-2/1919_France_1Franc_PCGS_MS66_Toned_composite_zpsc2d23270.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><img src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb364/brg5658/Photography-3/1920_France_1Franc_NGC_MS65_toned_composite_zps352f8714.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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