France 1554-A 1/2 teston
This specimen was lot 1097 in Jean Elsen sale 141 (Brussels, June 2019), where it sold for €550 (about US$729 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri II (1547-1559), AR demi-teston au moulin, 1554A, Paris. 4e type. D/ B. l. et cuir. à d. R/ Ecu de France couronné. Très rare Nettoyé. Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Henry II, 1547-59, milled half teston of 1554, Paris mint, fourth type. Obverse: laureate and armored bust right; reverse: crowned arms of France. Very rare, cleaned, Very Fine.)"
This type had a face value of 5 sols, 8 deniers. The 1554-A is only date known struck in a press and is much scarcer than the milled teston of the same date.
Recorded mintage: 544,603 (including testons).
Specification: 4.799 g, .899 fine silver, this specimen 4,68 g.
Catalog reference: Dupl-991; Ci. 1296; Laf. 829, Sb 4590.
- 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]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 141, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2019.
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