Aquitaine (1377-99) hardi d'argent
This specimen was lot 72004 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, May 2023), where it sold for $144. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. Aquitaine. Hardi, ND (1377-99). Richard II. PCGS VF-35. Satisfying charcoal and olive green cabinet patina grace the surfaces of this 14th century issue. Rather appealing detail is visible on both faces, though some striking weakness, a characteristic of crude production technology, does exist in the portrait. Struck under the reign of a king whose life was canonized by Shakespeare." While historians hotly dispute Shakespeare's characterization of Richard II as an effeminate bungler, he did manage to antagonize enough of the English aristocracy that when Henry of Bolingbroke landed in 1399, Richard found little support to fend off the invader. At this stage of the Hundred Years War, the English held only a coastal strip of Aquitaine and were finding it difficult to ward off Frnch attacks. Richard managed to maintain a truce with France for most of his reign, staving off the inevitable loss.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver.
Catalog reference: Elias-228.
- Roberts, James N., The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD), S. Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, The January 2017 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Richard Stuart Collection, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2016.
Link to:
- Aquitaine (1362-72) hardi d'argent, Edward the Black Prince
- Aquitaine (1469-72) hardi d'or Fr-20, Charles de France
- Coins and currency dated 1377
- return to Aquitaine