France 1579-D franc
This specimen was lot 1734 in Goldberg sale 128 (Los Angeles, June 2022), where it sold for $1,260. The catalog description[1] noted, "France. Franc au col plat, 1579-D. Henri III, 1574-1589. Laureate and cuirassed bust right with high collar. Reverse: Flowered cross with H in center. Well struck with old cabinet toning. Only one graded at PCGS. PCGS graded AU-58." Sombart[2] reports three known in his survey, making this a very scarce date. It is the only date from Riom that is not very rare. The franc had a face value of twenty sols tournois. Heavy clipping prompted the regime to suspend production in 1586.
Recorded mintage: 19,216[2].
Specification: 14.18 g, 0.833 fine silver.
Catalog reference: Sb 4714, Dupl-1130, Ciani-1427.
- 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.
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