France 1554-M teston

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Jean Elsen sale 141, lot 1090

This specimen was lot 1090 in Jean Elsen sale 141 (Brussels, June 2019), where it sold for €200 (about US$265 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri II (1547-1559), AR teston, 1554M, Toulouse. 2e type. D/ B. cuir. à d., t. nue. R/ Ecu de France couronné, entre deux H couronnés. Fines griffes. Belle patine. Très Beau à Superbe. (kingdom of France, Henry II, 1547-59, silver teston of 1554, Toulouse mint, second type. Obverse: armored bust right with bare head; reverse: crowned arms of France between two crowned "H's". Fine scratches, nice toning, Very Fine - Extremely 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 is listed in Duplessy for 1551-58 with a face value of 11 sols, 4 deniers tournois. Sombart notes 16 examples of the 1554-M teston à la tête nue, cinquieme type, making it a common date.

Recorded mintage: est. 122,782, a common date.

Specification: 9.598 g, 0.899 fine silver, this specimen 9,31 g.

Catalog reference: Dupl-983; Ci. 1271; Laf. 821, Sb 4572.

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.
  • [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]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 141, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2019.

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