France 1555-H teston
This specimen was lot 3435 in Sincona sale 51 (Zürich, October 2018), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Frankreich, Henri II. 1547-1559. Teston 1555 H, La Rochelle. Gutes sehr schön. Leichter Doppelschlag, sonst schön ausgeprägt. (kingdom of France, Henry II, 1547-59, teston of 1555, La Rochelle mint. Good very fine, Minor double strike on reverse, otherwise well struck.)"
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.
Recorded mintage: est. 22,950, a scarce date.
Specification: 9.59 g, .899 fine silver, this specimen 9.49 g.
Catalog reference: Duplessy 983, Sb 4558.
- 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]Richter, Jürg, Sincona Auction 51: Gold and Silver Coins and Medals; Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2018.
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