France KM#968 5 Francs 1989 VF or better—Eiffel Tower—Commemorative
France KM#968 5 Francs 1989 VF or better—Eiffel Tower—Commemorative
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You can't own the Eiffel Tower — not the real iron one. But you can own a piece of it, in nickel and copper, from the year it turned 100.
Coin Characteristics
- Varieties: Single variety
- Obverse: Base of the Eiffel Tower, denomination above; engraved by Joaquin Jimenez
- Reverse: Eiffel Tower viewed from below, dates 1889–1989 at right; engraved by Frédéric Joubert
- Composition: Nickel-plated copper-nickel (Cu75%Ni25%), mildly magnetic
- Weight: 10 g
- Diameter: 29 mm
- Thickness: 2 mm
- Shape: Round
- Edge: Reeded
- Orientation: Coin alignment ↑↓
- Mint: Monnaie de Paris, Paris/Pessac (864–date)
- Mint marks: Dolphin (Émile Rousseau, General Engraver, Monnaie de Paris, 1974–1994); AGMM (Atelier de Gravure des Monnaies et Médailles)
- Commemorative issue: 100th Anniversary of the Eiffel Tower
- Demonetized: 17 February 2002
- References: Gad 1789# 772, KM# 968, Schön# 263, Franc 2014# 342/2
- Mintage: 9,784,011
- Currency: New franc (1960–2001)
- Country: France — Fifth Republic (1958–date)
France Unfiltered
- The Eiffel Tower was built as a temporary structure for the 1889 World's Fair and was nearly demolished 20 years later — saved only because it made a useful radio antenna.
- Gustave Eiffel's contract gave him the right to use the tower commercially for 20 years; he recouped the entire construction cost within the first year from ticket sales alone.
- The Monnaie de Paris has been striking coins continuously since 864 AD, making it the oldest institution in France still operating at its original purpose.
- France issued this coin in 1989 — the same year it celebrated the bicentennial of the French Revolution, making 1989 one of the most commemoratively loaded years in French numismatic history.
Iron lace and a centennial in metal
When Gustave Eiffel’s tower turned 100 in 1989, France was also marking 200 years since the Revolution — a double anniversary that made the year feel almost engineered for ceremony. The Eiffel Tower coin landed in that moment like a punctuation mark. Struck by the world’s oldest continuously operating mint, it carries two engravers’ signatures: Jimenez on the obverse, Joubert on the reverse — a collaboration as Parisian as the tower itself.
The obverse gives you the base: four splayed iron feet, the denomination floating above like a caption. Flip it and you’re looking up from the ground, the tower converging to a point against nothing. It’s one of the more dramatically composed reverses in French commemorative coinage.
Nearly 10 million were struck. Most circulated. Finding one in XF — with the high points still crisp and the tower’s lattice detail intact — takes more patience than the mintage figure suggests.
The tower that wasn’t supposed to last
Eiffel designed it to come down. The city of Paris designed it to be forgotten. Instead it became the most visited paid monument on earth. The coin captures it at its centennial — still standing, still surprising, still the thing everyone pictures when they picture France.
Own this centennial in nickel and copper
A coin struck the year France celebrated both its most famous structure and its most famous revolution. The Eiffel Tower at 100, in XF condition, from the mint that has never stopped striking since Charlemagne.
Iron that was meant to rust. A coin that was meant to spend. Neither quite did.
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- Live outside the United States? You are not affected by this issue.
Shipping
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Who is World Money Store?
World Money Store is me, Βrian Grοss, the sole proprietor of this small business, based in Washington D.C. I've spend half my adult life in The Netherlands and Mexico and have an addiction to travel, history and languages (Spanish, Dutch Russian and a few others); Arabic my current challenge. My personal instagram is @df2dc.
I've been on ebay for 22 years, and I am also on Whatnot. I put together the website myself, and do all the purchasing.
I travel around the world to personally select a range of banknotes and coins that I KNOW match the interests of my customers, and by traveling to the right places, I get them at the best prices, too.
I have three main groups of customers:
1. the ones who love diverse colorful and affordable notes from around the world
2. those who love to own pieces of the propaganda of communist dictatorships (Cuba, North Korea) and "bad guys" like the Ayatollah, Saddam, Gadaffi. Iran (Shah, Ayatollah), Syria (Assad, current).
3. those who seek Venezuelan and Iranian currency. We sell banknotes for collecting purposes only (our intention).
I happen to have a lot of depth and breadth in Mexico and Brazil, in addition to Cuba and Iran.
I don't focus on anything from the U.S. and Canada, items from before World War II, "lucky" serial numbers, or PMG-graded items.
Buy with Confidence
- You will receive (a) banknote(s) or coin(s) similar to the one(s) in the picture, in the condition mentioned in the listing title such as UNC, VF, etc. See below for definitions.
- Banknote serial numbers will vary
- Authenticity: All items presented as banknotes or coins are guaranteed genuine currency, sourced from reliable suppliers and verified by our team. Exception: some souvenir and gold foil notes that are clearly marked as souvenir, fantasy, gold foil, etc.
- Return the item within 14 days of receipt for your money back if not satisfied.
- Save on shipping — make one transaction!
How We Grade Coins
A note on “dirt” and dark spots
Circulated coins often show some toning (natural color change of the metal) and sometimes adhered dirt/deposits (a bonded film or small patch that cannot be removed without conservation or cleaning). A coin can still be correctly graded VF/XF/AU even if it has a small, stubborn smudge—that typically affects eye appeal, not the underlying wear grade, unless it is corrosion or damage.
Grade primarily describes wear. Surface issues can exist at any grade:
- A coin can be VF/XF/AU and still have a small, stubborn smudge
- A coin with corrosion, pitting, holes, deep gouges, harsh cleaning, or heavy rim damage is considered a problem coin the we will describe specifically in the listing.
- MS-70: Perfect coin with no visible flaws under magnification
- MS-69: Near-perfect with only minor imperfections visible under magnification
- MS-68: Premium quality with very few contact marks
- MS-67: High quality with minimal contact marks
- AU-50: About uncirculated with light wear
- XF-45: Extremely fine with light overall wear
- MS-65: Gem quality with light contact marks
- MS-63: Choice uncirculated with noticeable contact marks
- MS-60: Uncirculated but with significant contact marks
- AU-58: Almost uncirculated with slight wear on highest points
Very Fine (VF) coin
What VF means: The coin has seen real circulation. Major features are clear, but high points are noticeably worn down.
Wear & detail (what you’ll see)
- Moderate wear across the whole design
- High points are flattened/rounded (not sharp)
- Most major elements are fully visible (portrait, emblem, date, legends)
- Inner detail is partially worn: hair strands, feather lines, leaf veins may be merged or softened
- Rim is complete; lettering should be readable and strong
Marks, scratches, and rims
- Many small contact marks from circulation
- Light scratches/hairlines are common
- Small rim nicks or bumps may appear
- No single deep gouge should dominate the coin (unless disclosed as a problem)
Brilliance / luster
- No mint luster
- Surface looks matte or uniformly dull
- Any “shine” is usually from wear smoothing, not original luster
Color, toning, and dirt
- Toning is often medium gray/brown (varies by metal)
- Darker color may collect in recesses
- Adhered grime in protected areas is common
- You may see a small dark smudge/spot (a few mm) that cannot be removed without conservation
In plain terms: VF is solid, honest circulation with full readability and strong main design, but clearly worn.
Extremely Fine (XF) coin
What XF means: Only light circulation. The design is sharp, with wear mainly limited to the highest points.
Wear & detail (what you’ll see)
- Light wear on the highest points only
- Most inner detail remains crisp: separation in hair, feathers, shield lines, leaf structure
- Legends, date, and rims are sharp and well-defined
- High-point flatness is present but limited and localized
Marks, scratches, and rims
- Fewer marks than VF
- Small contact ticks may be present
- Light hairlines possible
- Rim usually clean with only minor nicks
Brilliance / luster
- Some original luster may remain, especially in protected areas (around lettering, inside wreaths, fields near devices)
- Coin may show a slight “flash” when tilted, but not full cartwheel luster
Color, toning, and dirt
- Toning tends to be lighter and thinner than VF
- Dirt is usually limited to crevices
- A stubborn smudge can exist, but it will stand out more against the otherwise clean surfaces
In plain terms: XF still looks “sharp” at a glance—most detail is there—with only light wear on the tops.
About Uncirculated (AU) coin
The coin looks close to uncirculated but has the slightest wear (often called “rub” or “friction”) on the highest points.
Wear & detail (what you’ll see)
- Nearly full detail
- Only the very highest points show faint friction (cheekbone, hair curls, eagle breast, crown tips, etc.)
- No broad flattening; design remains crisp
Marks, scratches, and rims
- Contact marks may exist (coins can get marks without heavy wear)
- “Bag marks” (small dings from storage/handling) may appear
- Major scratches or damage are not expected unless disclosed
Brilliance / luster
- Most mint luster is present
- Often shows a clear “cartwheel” effect when rotated in light
- The only dull areas should be on the tiny rub points
Color, toning, and dirt
- Toning may be present, sometimes attractive
- Dirt/deposits should be minimal
- A small dark patch (few mm) can still occur from old residue or contamination; it may be non-removable without conservation
- If the patch is corrosion/etching (metal damage), that is a problem, and should be disclosed separately
In plain terms: AU is a “near-mint” circulated coin—luster mostly intact, with only a whisper of wear.