France 1576-9 1/4 franc

Goldberg sale 128, lot 1732

This specimen was lot 1732 in Goldberg sale 128 (Los Angeles, June 2022), where it sold for $192. The catalog description^[1] noted, "France. ¼ Franc au col plat, 1576-9 (Rennes). Henri III, 1574-1589. Laureate head right in high collar, mint mark below. Reverse: Fluer-de-lys cross, H in center. Toned. The only example at PCGS. PCGS graded EF-40." Sombart^[2] reports three known in his survey, making this a very scarce date. However, the type is so scarce that rare dates command little premium. The quart franc had a face value of five sols tournois.

Recorded mintage: unknown^[2].

Specification: 3.54 g, 0.833 fine silver.

Catalog reference: Sb 4718.

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.
• ^[2]Sombart, Stéphan, Franciae IV: Catalogue des Monnaies Royales Françaises de François Ier à Henri IV (1540-1610), Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 1997.
• ^[1]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, Stephen Harvey and Vera Liu, Goldberg Sale 128: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2022.

Links to:

• 1576-D douzain aux deux H
• 1576-M douzain
• 1576-A teston
• 1576-G teston
• 1576-H teston
• 1576-L teston
• 1576-M teston
• 1576-A franc au col plat
• 1576-B franc au col plat
• 1576-F franc au col plat
• 1576-T franc au col plat
• 1587-K quart franc au col plat
• Coins and currency dated 1576
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)