France 1586-M franc
This specimen was lot 605 in Stack's Bowers ANA auction (Chicago, August 2014), where it sold for $881.25. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. Franc, 1586-M. Toulouse Mint. Henri III (1574-89). NGC MS-62. Toned with underlying luster. A nice full strike with good portrait and complete legends." Duplessy lists this type for 1575-86 from numerous mints. The face value was twenty sols tournois. This franc avec fraise is distinguished from the contemporary franc au col plat by the addition of a lace ruff to the king's collar. It seems to be unique to the Toulouse mint.
Recorded mintage: est. 332,856 (including some franc au col plat), a common date.
Specification: 14.18 g, 0.833 fine silver.
Catalog reference: Dupl-1130a; Ciani-1434, 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]Ponterio, Richard, The August 2014 Chicago ANA Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Featuring the David O'Harrow Collection, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2014.
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