In February 2002 France introduced the euro. The French franc had been in use for 207 years altogether. To consolidate people's trust in the new currency, the national sides of the French euro coins show well-known symbols. No theme could have qualified better than the sower, however. She had appeared on French coins since 1897 now and again. On the euro coins, the sower symbolizes a France that remains true to itself, regardless of its integration in Europe.