France 1557-M 1/2 teston
This specimen was lot 1522 in Jean Elsen sale 149 (Brussels, December 2021), where it sold for €280 (about US$379 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri II (1547-1559), AR demi-teston, 1557M, Toulouse. 2e type. D/ B. cuir. à d., t. nue. R/ Ecu de France couronné, entre deux H couronnés. Belle patine. Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Henry II, silver half teston of 1557, Toulouse mint, second type. Obverse: armored bust right with bare head; reverse: crowned arms of France between two crowned "H's". Nice patina, Very 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 5 sols, 8 deniers tournois. It is the second type, showing only the king's head. It is much scarcer than the teston.
Recorded mintage: 86,521, including testons[2].
Specification: 4.79 g, 0.899 fine silver, this specimen 4,68 g.
Catalog reference: Dupl-984; Ci. 1290; Laf. 822, Sb 4574.
- 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 149: Monnaies, Médailles et Décorations, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2021.
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