France (1348-49) gros
This specimen was lot 944 in Jean Elsen sale 146 (Brussels, November 2020), where it sold for €120 (about US$175 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Philippe VI de Valois (1328-1350), AR gros à la queue, 1348-1349. D/ Croix latine coupant la légende intérieure à 6h: (couronne) PHILIP-PVS· REX. R/ TVRONVS· CIVIS Châtel tournois à trois arcades, sous une couronne. Bordure de douze lis. Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Philip VI, 1328-50, silver groat, 1348-49. Obverse: Latin cross cuts the legend at 6 o'clock; reverse: castle with three arcades below a crown, border of twelve lilies. Very Fine.)"
The gros tournois of Philippe V (Dupl-238) was 4.13 g, 0.958 fine silver and worth fifteen deniers tournois. Charles IV issued a similar coin (Dupl-242) with the weight raised to 4.21 g. Philippe VI's first gros parisis (Dupl-260) was 5.09 g but by the time this coin was minted, its weight and fineness had weakened considerably. The process would continue under Jean II (see Dupl-300, 3.39 g, 0.269 fine).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.39 g, 0.479 fine silver, this specimen 3,30 g.
Catalog reference: Dupl-265; Ci. 306; Laf. 268.
- 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 146: Collection Anthony Lorrain Monnaies de Metz, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2020.
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