France (1427) angelot d'or Fr-300
The first specimen was lot 1006 in Jean Elsen sale 145 (Brussels, September 2020), where it sold for €7,000 (about US$9,974 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri VI d'Angleterre (1422-1453), AV angelot d'or, mai 1427, Paris (couronnelles initiales). D/ L'archange Gabriel à mi-corps de f., ten. les écus de France et de France-Angleterre. R/ Croix latine entre un lis et un léopard. Extrêmement rare Flan légèrement bosselé. Très Beau. Provient de Monnaies 19, 29 janvier 2004, 593. (kingdom of France, Henry VI of France and England, 1422-53, gold angel, May 1427, Paris mint (initial crown). Obverse: the archangel Gabriel supports the arms of France and England; reverse: latin cross between a lily and a leopard. Extremely rare, a few dents, Very Fine.)"
The second specimen was lot 99061 in Heritage sale 61253 (Dallas, January 2022), where it sold for $7,500. The catalog description[1] noted,
"France: Flawlessly Struck Angelot d'Or from St. Lo. Anglo-Gallic. Henry VI (1422-1461) gold Angelot d'Or ND (1427-1449) AU Details (Bent) NGC, St. Lo mint, Emission from 24 May 1427. (lis) hЄИRICVS: FRAИCORV: ЄT: AИGLIЄ: RЄX, Archangel Gabriel standing facing with outstretched wings supporting the arms of France (on left) and England (on right) / (lis) XPC': VIИCIT: XPC': RЄGИAT: XPC': ImPЄRAT, Latin cross with lis to left and leopard to right. Among the most coveted emissions of Henry VI's Anglo-Gallic coinage, the gold Angelot, minted at 2/3 of the larger and more prolific Salut d'Or, is an issue as instantly recognizable as it is rare. A quick survey of auction records reveals fewer than 10 examples from this mint having sold in the last 20 years, with the present coin being just the second representative of the type we have had the privilege to present, and the first from St. Lo. Minted just prior to the turn of the Hundred Years' War when the French began to make considerable advances against the English under Charles VII, this masterpiece in miniature certainly recalls the height of England's victories in the war that culminated with Henry VI's crowning as Henri II of France. Though a light degree of circulation rub can be perceived across the top of the designs, the offering comes across as undoubtedly fine in its execution, with each and ever feature carefully proportioned and laid out."
This rare type was worth 15 sols tournois. The collapse of English control of northern France in 1436 ended the issue of this coin.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 2.33 g, 1.000 fine gold, this specimen 2,31 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-300, Dupl-444; Ci. 600; Laf. 448; Elias 274.
- Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome I, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 145, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2020.
- [2]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, The Brittany Collection of French Coins Showcase Auction #61253, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
Link to:
- (1422) blanc aux écus, Henry VI
- (1423) petit blanc aux écus, Henry VI
- (1423) blanc aux trois lis
- (1423) salut d'or, Paris mint, Henry VI
- (1423) salut d'or, Nevers mint, Henry VI
- (1423) salut d'or, Rouen mint, Henry VI
- (1426) écu d'or à la couronne
- (1429) blanc aux lis accotés, La Rochelle mint
- (1429) royal d'or, Poitiers mint
- (1431) petit blanc au K, dit "des gens d'armes", Loches mint
- (1431-61) petit blanc au K, Troyes mint
- (1431) royal d'or, La Rochelle mint
- Coins and currency dated 1427
- return to French royal coinage (to 1793)