France 1580-L franc
This specimen was lot 1231 in Jean Elsen sale 133 (Brussels, June 2017), where it sold for €250 (about US$331 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri III (1574-1589), AR franc au col plat, 1580L, Bayonne. D/ B. l. et cuir. à d. R/ Croix feuillue et fleurdelisée, H en coeur. Beau à Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Henry III, 1574-89, silver franc of the plain collar of 1580, Bayonne mint. Obverse: laureate, armored bust to right; reverse: floriate cross with "H" at center. Fine to very fine.)"
Duplessy lists this type for 1575-86 from numerous mints. The face value was twenty sols tournois. Heavy clipping prompted the regime to suspend production in 1586.
Recorded mintage: est. 68,758, a rare date.
Specification: 14.18 g, 0.833 fine silver, this specimen 13,80 g.
Catalog reference: Dupl-1130; Ci-1427; Laf-970, Sb 4714.
- 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 133, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2017.
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