France 1554-A teston

Heritage sale 3032, lot 24633

from the Mountain Groan Collection

The first specimen was lot 24633 in Heritage sale 3032 (Chicago, April 2014), where it sold for $2,350. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Henri II Teston du moulin 1554-A, Paris mint, XF45 NGC. Evenly circulated with lovely old-time toning." The first specimen, a teston à la tête laurée, was milled at Paris 1552-54. The second specimen, a teston au bust laurée, was milled at Paris 1554-58. Both were made in substantial numbers but are expensive today because they are so much better made than the usual hammered examples.

Recorded mintage: est. 544,603 (including both types).

Specification: 9.59 g, .899 fine silver.

Catalog reference: Rob-3534, Duplessy-989 (first specimen), Sb 4584 (first specimen), Sb 4588 (second specimen).

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.
• ^[1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3032, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2014

Link to:

• 1553-A teston au moulin
• 1554-C douzain aux croissants
• 1554-A demi-teston au moulin
• 1554-G teston
• 1554-H teston
• 1554-M teston
• 1554-G double henri d'or
• 1555-A teston au moulin
• Coins and currency dated 1554
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)