France (1280-90) gros tournois
This specimen was lot 927 in Jean Elsen sale 145 (Brussels, September 2020), where it sold for €85 (about US$121 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Philippe IV le Bel (1285-1314), AR gros tournois à l'O rond, 1280-1290. D/ PHILIPPVS REX en légende intérieure. Croix pattée. R/ TVRONVS CIVIS Châtel tournois. Bordure de douze lis. Différent: le X de REX cantonné de quatre points. Petites traces de corrosion. Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Philip IV the Fair, 1285-1314, undated silver groat with round "O's", struck 1280-1290. Obverse: cross pattée, PHILIPPVS REX in interior legend; reverse: castle of Tours, border of twelve lilies. Privy mark: the "X" of "REX" is cantonned with four dots. Minor traces of corrosion, Very Fine.)"
This early gros tournois was worth 12 deniers tournois. Victim of many debasements, the gros tournois would eventually split into a billon version worth ten deniers tournois and a silver version worth 24 deniers tournois. Specimens with "PHILIPPVS" are attributed to Philip IV while those with "PHILIPVS" are attributed to Philip III. Note also the four dots around the "X" in "REX".
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 4.21 g, 0.958 fine silver, this specimen 3,98 g.
Catalog reference: Dupl-213; Ci. 201; Laf. 217.
- Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome I, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
- 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 145, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2020.
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