Bouillon and Sedan 1597 1/4 ecu
This specimen was lot 2429 in Sincona sale 80 (Zürich, October 2022), where it sold for 950 CHF (about US$1,139 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE | Sedan et Bouillon, Henri de la Tour, 1591-1623. Teston 1597. HENRI.D.LA.TOVR.D.DE.BVLL.PS.DE.SED. Gekröntes Wappen zwischen II-II. Rv. NON.EST.CONS:ADVERSUS.DOMIN.1797 Lilienkreuz. Äusserst selten. NGC XF45. (France, Sedan and Bouillon, Henry de la Tour, 1591-1623, teston of 1597. Obverse: crowned arms divide the value; reverse: floriate cross. Extremely rare.)"
The kingdom of France superseded the teston in 1576 in favor of the quarter écu. This example could easily fit either denomination but the style closely matches the quarter écu; testons nearly always featured portraits. The ducal line, suffragan to the prince-bishop of Liege, fell extinct in 1671 and the province was annexed to France in 1678. Today, Bouillon is in Belgium and Sedan is in France.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: quarter écu: 9.71 g, 0.917 fine silver; teston: 9.598 g, 0.899 fine silver, this specimen 9.32 g.
Catalog reference: Roberts-6355, Poey d'Avant - (vgl. 6313). Boudeau -.
- Roberts, James N., The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD), S. Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 80, World Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, World Banknotes, Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
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