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.

The works of Rembrandt on display in the Louvre in Paris provide the backdrop for the next coin in the series of French Excellence by Monnaie de Paris with gold and silver choices.

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 ...

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 ...