France 1584-M franc
This specimen was lot 1512 in Jean Elsen sale 147 (Brussels, June 2021), where it sold for €900 (about US$1,315 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri III (1574-1589), AR franc au col fraisé, 1584M, Toulouse. D/ B. l. et cuir. à d. R/ Croix feuillue et fleurdelisée, H en coeur. Différent: C (Pierre Catellan). Beau portrait. Très Beau à Superbe. Provient de la collection P. Devaux, Paris, 7 novembre 2008, 2237. (kingdom of France, Henry III, 1574-89, silver franc of the ruffed collar of 1584, Toulouse mint. Obverse: laureate and armored bust right; reverse: floriate cross, "H" at center. Very Fine - Extremely Fine.)"
This franc d'argent had a face value of 20 sols tournois and was struck 1575-86. This subtype with a ruffed collar was struck almost exclusively at Toulouse. Other mints striking silver francs used a different collar on the king's bust.
Recorded mintage: 186,300, an uncommon date.
Specification: 14.18 g, 0.833 fine silver, this specimen 14,14 g.
Catalog reference: Dupl-1130A; Ci. 1434; Laf. 970, Sb-4720.
- 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 147: Monnaies, Médailles et Décorations, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2021.
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