France 1575-K teston
This specimen was lot 1420 in Jean Elsen sale 136 (Brussels, March 2018), where it sold for €85 (about US$125 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri III (1574-1589), AR teston, [1575]K, Bordeaux. Sans le titre de roi de Pologne. D/ B. l., dr. et cuir. à d., une fraise au col. R/ Ecu de France couronné, entre deux H couronnés. Rare. presque Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Henry III, 1574-89, silver teston of 1575, Bordeaux mint, without the title of king of Poland. Obverse: laureate, draped and armored bust right, wearing a ruffed collar; reverse: crowned arms of France between two crowned "H's". Rare, about very fine.)"
This type was struck 1575-77 with a flat collar (Dupl-1126A) or a ruffed collar (Dupl-1126). Henry III was briefly king of Poland before bcoming king of France on the death of his brother, and he retained that title on some of his coins.
Recorded mintage: est. 129,438 (including thsoe struck with the bust of Charles IX), a common date.
Specification: 9.59 g, .899 fine silver, this specimen 9,43 g.
Catalog reference: Dupl-1126B; Ci. 1413; Laf. 965, Sb 4646.
- 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 136: Collection Martiny, Collection Nef, Collection Casterman, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2018.
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