France (1527-28)-Grenoble teston
This specimen was lot 740 in Jean Elsen sale 132 (Brussels, March 2017), where it sold for €170 (about US$215 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, François Ier (1515-1547), AR teston du Dauphiné, s.d. (1527-1529?), Grenoble. 4e type. Différent: N en fin de légende (Etienne Nachon). D/ B. couronné et cuirassé à d. R/ Ecu écartelé aux armes de Dauphiné et France. Rare. Beau/Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Francis I (1515-47), silver teston of Dauphiné, undated, Grenoble mint, fourth type. Obverse: crowned and cuirassed bust to right; reverse: quartered arms of Dauphiné and France. Rare, fine to very fine.)"
This silver teston was struck by the hammer at the Grenoble mint, which used a reverse peculiar to Dauphiné, a practice which continued until the reign of Louis XIV. The familiar mintmark letters were adopted in 1540, when Grenoble was assigned mintmark "Z".
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 9.59 g, .899 fine silver, this specimen 9,09 g.
Catalog reference: Dupl-826A; Ci. 1142; Laf. 687a.
- Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 132, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2017.
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