Besancon (1642-65) 2 ducats
This specimen was lot 1909 in Jean Elsen sale 162 (Brussels, June 2025), where it sold for €12,000 (about US$16,632 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, BESANÇON, Ville impériale, AV double ducat, s.d. (1642-1665). Pièce du droit de général. D/ B. l. et cuir. de l'empereur Ferdinand III à d. R/ Armes de la ville entourées des écus de ses sept bannières. Au-dessus, VESON-TIO. Très rare. Fines griffes. (France, free city of Besançon, undated gold double ducat, circa 1642-65. Piece of General's Right. Obverse: laureate and armored bust of the emperor Ferdinand III right; reverse: city arms encircled by the arms of the seven neighborhoods, "VESON - TIO" above. Very rare, hairlines, very Fine - Extremely Fine.)
Les pièces du droit de général sont une particularité de la Monnaie de Besançon. Elles étaient à l'origine délivrées aux quatorze gouverneurs pour leur fonction de général de la Monnaie de la cité. D'abord remises sous la forme de piéforts en argent, elles furent frappées en or à partir de 1642 au poids de deux ducats (27 exemplaires par an) ou de quatre 4 ducats (16 exemplaires par an). Provient de Numismatica Genevensis, vente 5, 3 décembre 2008, 573. (The General's Right coins are a special feature of the Besançon Mint. They were originally issued to the fourteen governors for their role as supervisors of the city's mint. Initially issued in the form of silver pieforts, they were struck in gold from 1642 to the weight of two ducats (27 pieces per year) or four 4 ducats (16 pieces per year).)"
Altho today Besançon is part of France, being the chief city of the Franche-Comte, in 1642 it was part of the Holy Roman Empire. It was incorporated into France in 1678. This is not listed in Friedberg and is probably a medal, not a coin, as it lacks the mandatory bust of Charles V.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: gold, this specimen 6,92 g.
Catalog reference: KM 40, C.C.K. p. 162.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 162: Collection Jacques Druart, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2025.
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