The Eiffel Tower was built from 1887 and 1889 as the entrance arch for the Exposition Universelle. That World's Fair marked the Centennial celebration of the French Revolution.
The tower was not originally appreciated by many people. In fact, French writer Guy de Mauppasant used to lunch there everyday because that was the only place that you couldn't see it.
It was originally intended to stand for only 20 years...but, of course, its still here...even after Adolph Hitler ordered it to be demolished...and had his order disobeyed.
Read more about the Tower at (
visit link)
This website (
visit link) informs us that:
" Technical Specifications
Denomination Description Diameter Weight Fineness Gold Content
500 Francs 1989 - 1991 (1992 Winter Olympics) 31 17.0000 .920 .5028
500 Francs 1993 - 1994 48 31.10400 .9990 1.0000
500 Francs 1993 155.5000 .9990 4.9944
500 Francs 1994 28 17.0000 .9200 .5028
500 Francs 1994 (1996 Olympics) 36 16.9700 .9167 .5000
1994 For 1996 Centenary of First Modern Olympic Games 1906 Paris
Paris and France are justifiably proud that the first modern day Olympics were held in Paris in 1906, therefore it is fitting that the Paris Mint, the Monnaie de Paris, issued a centenary coin to celebrate the event. The obverse of this coin has a very attractive facing head of Marianne, her head covered by a Lion mask, in the manner of Hercules on ancient Greek coins. The reverse design is the statue of Herakles (Hercules) as an archer, by French sculptor Antoine Bourdelle, with the Eiffel Tower in the background.
Historians tell us an archeological discovery made at the ruins of Olympia among other things, first gave Pierre de Coubertin his idea for a revival of the Olympic Games. What a magnificent idea it was... soon to realise 100 years of glorious Olympic tradition. (Juan Antonio Samaranch, President International Olympic Committee)."