France 1575-M teston
This specimen was lot 1116 in Jean Elsen sale 141 (Brussels, June 2019), where it sold for €100 (about US$133 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri III (1574-1589), AR teston, 1575M, Toulouse. A l'effigie et au titre de Charles IX. D/ B. l. et cuir. à g. R/ Ecu de France couronné, entre deux C couronnés. presque Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Henry III, 1574-89, silver teston of 1575, Toulouse mint, with the effigy and name of Charles IX. Obverse: laureate and armored bust left; reverse: crowned arms between two crowned "C's". about Very Fine.)"
This is the eighth teston struck for Henry III but bears the effigy and name of his dead brother Charles IX. It was struck 1575 only at three mints and was worth 12 sols tournois. Note the date in Roman numerals.
Recorded mintage: est. 349,987 (including the unbearded teston of Charles IX and a few with the bust of Henry III).
Specification: 9.598 g, .899 fine silver, this specimen 9,29 g.
Catalog reference: Dupl-1104; Ci. 1404; Laf. 945, Sb 4634.
- 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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