France 1552-A teston
The first specimen was lot 1104 in Jean Elsen sale 90 (Brussels, December 2006), where it sold for 160 euro. The catalog description noted,
"teston au moulin, s. d. (1552) A, Paris. D/B. l. a d. R/Ecu de France couronné. Rare, Beau a Tres Beau (milled teston, no date (1552), Paris mint. Obverse: laureate bust facing right; reverse: crowned shield of France. Rare, Fine to Very Fine)."
The portrait is of Henry II (r. 1547-59). Milled coinage was experimental in the sixteenth century and would not be generally adopted in France until the reform of 1640-42. This type was struck 1552-54 and, tho not rare, brings a premium because it was much better made than the hammered product. The second example lacks a date. The third specimen was lot 74639 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2025), where it sold for $264. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. Teston, 1552-A. Paris Mint. Henry II. PCGS VF-35. From the Richard August Collection."
Recorded mintage: est. 267,597 milled plus 202,878 hammered.
Specification: 0.899 fine silver, 9.59 g, the first specimen 9.27 g.
Catalog reference: Dupl-987A, Ciani 1281, Laf.-825b, Sb-4584. The third specimen is Dupl-983; Ciani-1266.
- 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.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, September 2025 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, including Selections from the Richard Margolis Collection and Selections from the L.E. Bruun Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
Link to:
- (1515-40)-Lyon teston
- 1550-A teston à la tête couronnée
- 1550-D teston à la tête couronnée
- 1551-M douzain aux croissants
- 1552-B douzain aux croissants
- 1552-H douzain aux croissants
- 1552-D teston
- 1552-A écu d'or aux croissants
- 1552-A double henri d'or
- 1553-A teston au moulin
- Coins and currency dated 1552
- return to French royal coinage (to 1793)