Brittany (1488-91) 2 denier
This specimen was lot 1079 in Jean Elsen sale 150 (Brussels, March 2022), where it sold for €460 (about US$610 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, BRETAGNE, Duché, Anne (1488-1491), billon double denier, Nantes. D/ Hermine enchaînée à g. sous une moucheture. En dessous, N. R/ Croix cantonnée de deux mouchetures. Rare. Beau à Très Beau. (France, duchy of Brittany, Anne, 1488-91, billon double denier, Nantes mint. Obverse: a chained ermine to left, 'N' below. Reverse: cross cantonned with two ermines. Rare, Fine - Very Fine.)"
Wikipedia comments, "Anne of Brittany (1477 – 1514) was Duchess of Brittany from 1488 until her death, and queen consort of France from 1491 to 1498 and from 1499 to her death. She is the only woman to have been queen consort of France twice. During the Italian Wars, Anne also became queen consort of Naples, from 1501 to 1504, and duchess consort of Milan, in 1499–1500 and from 1500 to 1512." Anne was more or less forcibly married to king Charles VIII in 1491 and again to his brother Louis XII after Charles' death in 1498. Louis XII divorced his first wife in order to marry Anne, so eager was he to obtain the duchy of Brittany. Their daughter Claude married François de Valois, founding that royal dynasty in 1515.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: billon, this specimen 1,10 g.
Catalog reference: Roberts-6668, Jézéquel 424; D. 355.
- Roberts, James N., The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD), S. Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 150: Collection J.F.L. Blankenberg, Monnaies de l'Orient Latin, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2022.
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