Parisian coin dealers swamped by silver-traders

Parisians took coin dealers by storm Wednesday after the government announced the withdrawal from circulation of silver-based coins which as metal are now worth up to six times their face value. "It's appalling," one dealer said. "They're lining up on both sides of the street to sell and we're letting them in 50 at a time.

Prime Minister Raymond Barre announced over the weekend that the Bank of France was demonetizing silver-based coins with face values of 5 francs (about $ 1.25), 10 francs ($2.50), and 50 francs (12.40).