France (1547-49)-M douzain
This specimen was lot 1723 in Goldberg sale 128 (Los Angeles, June 2022), where it sold for $204. The catalog description[1] noted, "France. Douzain a la croisette, ND-M (Toulouse). Henri II, 1547-1559. Ecu of France crowned in a polylobe. Reverse: Small cross in a quatrefoil. The only example graded at PCGS. PCGS graded AU-55." The douzain, worth 12 deniers tournois, was struck in a variety of forms during the reign of Francis I. Production was continued at the start of the reign of Henry II as the douzain à la croisette, which had a mintmark but no date. It was superseded after 1550 by the douzain aux croissants, made in large quantities until 1563. The douzain aux croissants was only 2.61 g while the douzains of Charles IX and later were 2.39 g. Sombart reports six known in his survey[2].
Recorded mintage: 79,200[2].
Specification: 2.68 g, 0.292 fine silver.
Catalog reference: Dupl-996; Ciani-1304, Sb 4376 (6 examples reported).
- Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
- [2]Sombart, Stéphan, Franciae IV: Catalogue des Monnaies Royales Françaises de François Ier à Henri IV (1540-1610), Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 1997.
- [1]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, Stephen Harvey and Vera Liu, Goldberg Sale 128: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2022.
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