Besancon 1543 2 teston Dav-8940
This specimen was lot 2868 in Sincona sale 83 (Zürich, May 2023), where it sold for 5,000 CHF (about US$6,692 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted, "Besançon, City, Double Teston (Franc) 1543, Die Jahreszahl im Stempel aus 1541 geändert. Das Stadtwappen auf einen Langkreuz. Rv. Geharnischtes Hüftbild Kaiser Karls V. nach links. Von grösster Seltenheit. Einziges bekanntes Exemplar. Sehr schön-fast sehr schön. Exemplar der Auktion NGSA 7, Genf, November 2012, Los 845. Exemplar der Slg. A. M. Huntington (HSA), 1001.1.21936. (city of Besançon, double teston or franc of 1543/1. Obverse: city arms with a long cross; reverse: half length armored bust of Charles V to left. Of the highest rarity. The only known specimen, Very fine to about very fine. From the Archer Huntington collection)." Besançon was the chief city of the Franche Comté, or Free County of Burgundy. Franche Comté was part of the Burgundian inheritance which passed to the Hapsburgs in the 1490's and thence to Philip II of Spain on the abdication of Charles V in 1556. Besançon, being an imperial free city, was not directly involved in these transfers but was invaded and annexed to France by Louis XIV as a result of the Thirty Years War. Her coinage ceased in 1673. When Besançon was granted the mint right by Charles V, he stipulated that all the coinage should bear his portrait, which condition the city scrupulously observed.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver; this specimen 18.27 g.
Catalog reference: Duplessy 3036, Carvalho/Clairand/Kind M10/1541, Dav-8940 var (1541).
- Davenport, John S., German Talers, 1500-1600, Frankfurt am Main, Numismatischer Verlag P. N. Schulten, 1979.
- Roberts, James N., The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD), S. Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 83, World and Swiss Coins and Medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2023.
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