France 1550-F douzain

from the Mountain Groan Collection

This douzain aux croissants was a billon coin issued in large numbers during the reign of Henry II (r. 1547-59). This specimen is from the Angers mint. Milled coinage was experimental in the sixteenth century and would not be generally adopted in France until the reform of 1640-42. This type had a face value of twelve deniers tournois, a denomination later occupied by the copper sou. It is the most common silver coin from this reign.

Recorded mintage: est. 1,248,480, a common date.

Specification: 2.62-2.68 g, .292 fine silver, 2.6 g.

Catalog reference: Dupl-997, Sb-4380 (11 examples reported).

Source:

• Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
• Roberts, James N., The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD), S. Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996.
• Sombart, Stéphan, Franciae IV: Catalogue des Monnaies Royales Françaises de François Ier à Henri IV (1540-1610), Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 1997.

Link to:

• (1547-49)-M douzain à la croisette
• 1550-A gros de Nesle
• 1550-H douzain aux croissants
• 1550-K douzain aux croissants
• 1550-A gros de Nesle
• 1550-A teston à la tête couronnée
• 1550-D teston à la tête couronnée
• 1550-D double henri d'or
• 1551-M douzain aux croissants
• 1551-T douzain aux croissants
• Coins and currency dated 1550
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)