History of the currency :
The Barter, a direct exchange of goods against another goods constitutes the first frame of reference. For example a sheep = 10 cocks... Consequently, the sheep becomes monetary unit and is used as basic value.
Since antiquity the man "craftsman" uses as monetary unit the object which he manufactures: iron of axe, knife, ingot of metal, fabric parts, ornaments... These objects being useful as currency - called paléo-currencies are numerous and vary from one area to another, even from one time to another.
Cauris :
In use until the XIXth century in Africa as an instrument of exchange and a store of value allowing the saving.
Grouped in heaps and often pierced, they facilitate counting in the commercial transactions.
First currencies in the Occident(west) :
In the Occident, the coin appears towards 650 front. J.C. among Greeks of Minor Asia (Western coast of current Turkey).
Small noble metal ingots of constant weight are manufactured by the city from which they carry the symbol: thus the first currencies with the meaning that we hear today are born: they have the same weight, the same form, and carry an identical mark.
The choice of gold and the money is explained by the fact that these matters are rare. They present a great value for a reduced weight and volume.
Traditionally, one allots to Crésus the paternity of this gold coining.
This king of Lydie owed his fabulous richness to the Gold mine, river which carted gold nuggets.
From Minor Asia, the use of the currency will be spread in all the Mediterranean basin
History of the franc :
1360 : First franc of the French monetary history, the " franc is created with horse " was created in December 5, 1360. This piece of gold being worth a pound tournaments is struck during the war of Hundred Years, at the time of the liberation of the king Jean II the Good, who had been captured by the English in 1356 in the battle of Poitiers. .
The term "franc ", used in the context of the time, means " free ".
The strucking of the franc with the horse continued until 1385. From the reign of Charles V the broadcast of one franc with foot took place (the king represented as he is standing), with the same value.
1575 : Henri III created the franc of money, heavy currency (14 gs) being worth a pound tournament. But a royal declaration of 1586 forbed the strucking because these pieces are frequently trimmed. On the other hand, the broadcast of the half franc and quarter of franc are maintained until 1642.
Then the term”franc”, synonymous of book, falls in disuse.
1803 :The piece of 1 franc of money, called Germinal Franc, is given out following laws of Germinal year XI. At this date, one struck in the same metal of the half and quarter franc, as well as 2 and 5 franc pieces. The multiple of 20 francs and 40 francs are cashed in gold.
The monetary system put in place during this period will subsist until 1914.
1958 : monetary reform of De Gaulle: 1 new Franc = 100 Ancient franc.
2002 : The Franc is replaced by the euro.

History of the euro :
1945 : End of the war in Europe.
1950 : Schuman declaration, proposing to France and Germany pooling of the resources of coal and steel.
1951 : Paris Treaty creating the Community of Coal and steel (6 countries). .
1957 : Rome Treaty. Creation of the European Economic Community (C.E.E., 6 countries). .
1969 : Customs union.
1972 : European monetary snake, limiting fluctuations to 2,25%. .
1979: European monetary system, defining a common monetary unit (ECU), rebaptised EURO in 1995.
1992 : Maastricht Treaty, creating the European union (UE) that replaces the EEC.
2002, 1er janvier : Appearance of pieces and tickets in Euro in 12 countries..
1er janvier 1999 : Definitive fixing of the value of the euro in the currency of the 11 participating countries. For France, 1 euro = 6.55957 franc.
Double display of detail prices in euro and in national currency in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
1er janvier 2002 : Circulation of pieces and tickets in euro
17 février 2002 : End of the legal course of the franc.
28 février 2002 : Disappearance of all national currencies.