France (1417) gros
The first specimen was lot 70105 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, May 2020), where it sold for $264. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. Gros Florette, ND (1417-22). Charles VI. NGC MS-63. Obverse: Three crowned lis; Reverse: Cross fleuree, with crowns alternating in angles. A deeply toned and fairly well struck example of the type, tied with just one other specimen as the finest in the NGC census." The second specimen was lot 998 in Jean Elsen sale 145 (Brussels, September 2020), where it sold for €100 (about US$143 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Charles VI (1380-1422), AR gros dit "Florette", 1e émission (mai 1417), Châlons-en-Champagne (T tridentés). D/ Trois lis sous une couronne tréflée. R/ Croix fleurdelisée, cantonnée de deux couronnelles. Rare. Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Charles VI, 1380-1422, silver groat called the "florette", first emission, May 1417, Châlons-en-Champagne mint. Obverse: three lilies under a crown; reverse: floriate cross cantonned with two crowns. Rare, Very Fine.)"
This type was issued in seven emissions from May 1417 to May 1420 as the weight and fineness dropped. All were declared to be worth twenty deniers tournois. On the first specimen, we note a dot under the "A" of "FRANCORVM", indicating the Limoges mint. Henry V of England issued a copy of this coin in 1419.
- First emission (second specimen, May 1417): 3.06 g, 0.638 fine silver;
- Second emission (first specimen, October 1417): 3.06 g, 0.425 fine silver;
- Third emission (May 1419): 3.06 g, 0.266 fine silver;
- Fourth emission (June 1419): 3.06 g, 0.319 fine silver;
- Fifth emission (July 1419): 3.06 g, 0.266 fine silver;
- Sixth emission (April 1420): 2.55 g, 0.239 fine silver;
- Seventh emission (May 1420): 2.44 g, 0.199 fine silver.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.06 g, .425 fine silver, the first specimen 3.09 g, the second specimen 2,93 g.
Catalog reference: first emission: Dupl-387; Laf. 391; Ci. 524; second emission: Dupl-387a; Ciani-526.
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The May 2020 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
- [2]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 145, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2020.
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