Bearn (1412-36) denier
This specimen was lot 899 in Stephen Album sale 50 (Santa Rosa, CA, September 2024), where it sold for $204. The catalog description[1] noted, "BÉARN: Jean I de Grailly, 1412-1436, AR denier, M P followed by cross, all within central circle, bull above // cross pattée, a very rare type, XF, RR, ex SARC Auction 13, Lot 1638. The flag of Béarn consisted of two bulls in red, facing left, on a plain yellow background." Several persons named Jean I de Grailly figure in history, of whom the best known is Jean I de Grailly (died c. 1301), seneschal of Gascony and crusader. The one figuring here is likely John I, also known as Jean de Foix-Grailly (1382-1436), count of Foix from 1428 until his death in 1436. Roberts comments, "The Béarn PAX denier was struck for over 400 years." In the fifteenth century, Béarn was still autonomous and struck its own coinage. We aren't sure what coinage standard was used; the royal deniers of Charles VI varied between 0.82-1.09 g and 0.080-0.160 fine silver.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: billon, this specimen 0.54 g.
Catalog reference: Roberts-4183, Dupl-1246, B-527.
- Roberts, James N., The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD), S. Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 50, featuring selections from the Dr. Robert A. Rosenfeld Collection, the Hakim Hamidi Collection, the Almer H. Orr III Collection and the Solar Collection, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2024.
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