France 1577-A franc
The first specimen was lot 902 in Jean Elsen sale 131 (Brussels, December 2016), where it sold for €15,000 (about US$18,810 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri III (1574-1589), AR franc au col plat, 1577A, Paris (Moulin des Etuves). Au titre de roi de Pologne. Piéfort de poids quadruple. D/ HENRICVS III D G FRANCOR ET POL REX B. l. et cuir. à d. R/ SIT NOMEN DOMINI BENEDICTVM Croix feuillue et fleurdelisée, H en coeur. Tranche inscrite: + PACI QVIETI AC FOELICITATI PVBLICAE. Extrêmement rare Léger coup sur la tranche. Belle patine. Très Beau à Superbe. Provient de la collection Köhlmoos, vente Münzen und Medaillen AG, Bâle, 6-7 mars 2001, 666 et de The New York Sale XIV, 10 janvier 2007, 684. (kingdom of France, Henry III (1574-89) silver franc of the flat collar of 1577, Paris mint, with the title of king of Poland, piefort of quadruple weight. Obverse: laureate and armored bust to right; reverse: floriate cross, "H" in center; lettered edge. Extremely rare, light rim nick, nice toning, very fine to extremely fine.)"
Duplessy lists this type for 1575-86 and does not mention any struck by the balance. This quadruple weight piefort was doubtless a pattern or presentation piece. The second specimen was lot 1190 in Jean Elsen sale 159 (Brussels, June 2024), where it sold for €160 (about US$206 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri III (1574-1589), AR franc au col plat, 1577 A, Paris. D/ B. l. et cuir. à d. R/ Croix feuillue et fleurdelisée, H en coeur. Défauts de flan. Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Henry III, 1574-89, silver franc of the flat collar of 1577, Paris mint. Obverse: laureate and armored bust right; reverse: leafed and floriate cross with an "H" at the center. Planchet defects, very fine.)"
Recorded mintage: regular issue est. 428,921.
Specification: 14.18 g, 0.833 fine silver, the first specimen 56,60 g, the second specimen 13,99 g.
Catalog reference: Dupl-1130; Ci. 1423; Laf. 970c, Sb 4714 (hammered). The second specimen is Dupl-1130; Ci. 1427; Laf. 970.
- 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 131, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2016.
- [2]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 159, Collection Harry Dewit, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2024.
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