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Marianne is one of the most enduring symbols of France. A name not typically associated with aristocracy, her name comes from the name Marie Anne and was a common name during the late 18th century. Revolutionaries of that era adopted the name Marianne to symbolize “the mother country”.
The bust of Marianne on this coin shows her wearing a Phrygian cap. A Phrygian cap is a red felt cap that covers the ears and has a rounded top that is pulled forward. The Phrygian cap, given to emancipated slaves, dates back to the Greek and Roman empires. Being free, the former slaves became full-fledged citizens with all the rights and privileges of citizenry.
The primary role of any government is to protect its citizenry. The reverse of this coin depicts a child looking up to its mother. The mother dressed in armor appears as the Childs’ protectorate. Notice that the child is sitting right next to Marianne at the same level. This indicates the equality of the citizenry with their government.
Marianne as a symbol of the French Republic has come to represent the Republican trilogy of liberty, equality, and fraternity to her citizens. Marianne as an enduring symbol of the republic has survived five republics, and today she typically appears on coinage as a sower, sowing seed against the wind.