France (1422-36) blanc
The first specimen was lot 32738 in Heritage sale 3073 (Chicago, April 2019), where it sold for $660. The catalog description[1] noted, "Anglo-Gallic. Henry VI (1422-1461) Grand Blanc ND AU53 NGC, Le Mans mint, Root mm, A brilliant palate of topaz and argent hues, bringing an almost tangible brightness to the piece which further accentuates the distinctive lack of serious central weakness and its desirability on the whole." The second specimen was lot 7169 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2022), where it sold for $504. The catalog description[2] noted, "GREAT BRITAIN. Anglo-Gallic. Grand blanc aux ecus, ND (1422). Rouen Mint; mm: leopard. Henry VI. PCGS Genuine--Tooled, AU Details. Obverse: Two coats-of-arms; Reverse: Latin cross between lis and leopard passant. Despite the tooling, which is light and confined to the fields, this billion issue of Henry VI was issued during the period of the Hundred Years' War, when Henry claimed the French throne for himself and consequently bears the fleur-de-lis of France and the lion of England. A light electric blue hue is present and very little evidence of wear on this hammered issue. From the Runze Collection." Henry V had successfully conquered most of France and was on the verge of cementing his throne when he died suddenly in 1422. His son, Henry VI, was less than a year old and was placed under the care of regents, especially John, duke of Bedford, and Humphrey, duke of Gloucester. They mismanaged the war in France, allowing the dauphin Charles and Joan of Arc to reconquer much territory. This billon coin had a face value of ten denier tournois. It bears the arms of England and France, showing Henry's claim to both kingdoms. A petit blanc also exists, worth five deniers tournois.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.26 g, .399 fine silver; the first specimen 27 mm diameter, 3.15 g.
Catalog reference: Roberts-2963, Elias-285 (R), W&F-402A 3/g (R5). The second specimen S-8166; Elias-287.
- 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]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3073, featuring the Lake County Collection of British coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
- Skingley, Philip, ed., Standard Catalogue of British Coins: Coins of England & the United Kingdom, 46th edition, London: Spink & Son, 2011.
- Lobel, Richard, Mark Davidson, Allan Hailstone and Eleni Calligas, Coincraft's Standard Catalogue of English and UK Coins, 1066 to Date, London: Coincraft, 1995.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The 2022 NYINC Sale: World and Ancient Coins, featuring the Mark and Lottie Salton Collection and the Pat Johnson Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
Link to:
- (1417) blanc guenar, fifth emission, Tournai mint
- (1422) blanc aux écus, Henry VI, Paris mint
- (1423) petit blanc aux écus, Henry VI
- (1423) blanc aux trois lis
- (1423) écu d'or à la couronne, 1st emission, Charles VII
- (1423) salut d'or, Paris mint, Henry VI
- (1423) salut d'or, Nevers mint, Henry VI
- (1423) salut d'or, Rouen mint, Henry VI
- Coins and currency dated 1422
- return to French royal coinage (to 1793)