France 1559-L teston

from the Stack's Bowers 2019 NYINC sale, lot 42747

This specimen was lot 42747 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2019), where it sold for $432. The catalog description^[1] noted, "FRANCE. Teston, 1559-L. Bayonne Mint. Francis II (1559-60, in the name of Henry II). NGC AU-50. Entirely original with luster remaining evident beneath attractive tone on both sides and only the slightest trace doubling in the strike. RARE in this fully charming quality. From the Collection of Dr. James Eustace Bizzell, II." The portrait is of Henry II (r. 1547-59) tho issued during the reign of Francis II. Milled coinage was experimental in the sixteenth century and would not be generally adopted until the reform of 1640-42.

Recorded mintage: est. 76,168 (including testons of the bare head type); a fairly common date.

Specification: 9.59 g, 0.899 fine silver.

Catalog reference: cf. Roberts-3515; Dupl-1033, Sb 4592.

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]Ponterio, Richard, The August 2014 Chicago ANA Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Featuring the David O'Harrow Collection, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2014.

Link to:

• 1558-C teston
• 1558-M teston
• 1559-B teston
• 1559-H teston
• 1559-K teston
• 1559-M teston
• 1559-B demi-henri d'or
• 1559-B henri d'or
• Coins and currency dated 1559
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)