Obverse: The obverse depicts a right-facing portrait of the French writer Emile Zola. Beneath the portrait is the engraving EMILE ZOLA, and around it the inscription GERMINAL 1885–1985, marking the centenary of the novel Germinal.
Reverse: On the reverse, behind the denomination 100F, appears a mining landscape designed after a drawing by Alain Le Breton, reflecting the theme of Germinal. Around it is engraved the motto of the French Republic LIBERTÉ – ÉGALITÉ – FRATERNITÉ and the inscription RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE, along with the year 1985.
About the coin: This 100 Francs silver commemorative coin was minted in France in 1985 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Emile Zola’s novel Germinal. Zola (1840–1902) was one of France’s most famous writers and the founder of naturalism, who depicted the problems of Second Empire society and the struggles of workers in his works. The coin was struck at the Monnaie de Paris mint, composed of 90% silver, weighing 15 g, diameter 31 mm.
