France is one of the oldest, still surviving countryies in the world, along with others in Europe. Because of its long, arduous history, its coinage tells a lot of great history. I recently purchased an 1865 Dix Centimes from the French empire, and you can tell it has been through a lot. From German invasion and occupation, to the Hundred years war, the events of the years influenced the coinage. Here are some facts about the French Franc.