France 1586-H double tournois
This specimen was lot 1085 in Jean Elsen sale 145 (Brussels, September 2020), where it sold for €95 (about US$135 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri III (1574-1589), Cu double tournois, 1586H, La Rochelle. D/ B. l. et cuir. à d. R/ Trois lis dans le champ. Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Henry III, 1574-89, copper double tournois of 1586, La Rochelle mint. Obverse: laureate and armored bust right; reverse: three lilies in the field. Very Fine.)"
The specimen shown is a double tournois of Henry III (r. 1574-89) struck by the hammer at the La Rochelle mint (mintmark "H") in 1586. Duplessy notes that this type was struck 1577-89. These coins were produced by private contractors in large quantities at a profusion of mints and in many varieties until the 1640's. The issues of Henry III and IV were reasonable compared to those of the regency of Louis XIII, when the queen-mother sold production contracts to many of her supporters. The face value was two deniers.
Recorded mintage: 325,806.
Specification: 3.13 g, copper, this specimen 2,78 g.
Catalog reference: Dupl-1152; CGKL 56, Sb 4048.
- Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
- 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 145, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2020.
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