France 1555-A teston
This specimen was lot 1096 in Jean Elsen sale 141 (Brussels, June 2019), where it sold for €700 (about US$928 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri II (1547-1559), AR teston au moulin, 1555A, Paris. 4e type. D/ B. l. et cuir. à d. R/ Ecu de France couronné. Très rare. Très Beau. Provient de notre vente 59, 21 septembre 1999, 2538. (kingdom of France, Henry II, 1547-59, silver milled teston of 1555, Paris mint, fourth type. Obverse: laureate and armored bust right; reverse: crowned arms of France. Very rare, Very Fine.)"
This type had a face value of 11 sols, 4 deniers. The teston au moulin was struck in a press at Paris 1554-58. Productivity was low and the coinage press was abandoned until the 1640's.
Recorded mintage: est. 29,376.
Specification: 9.598 g, .899 fine silver, this specimen 9,44 g.
Catalog reference: Dupl-990; Ci. 1285; Laf. 828, Sb 4588.
- 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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