France 1588-A 1/2 franc
This specimen was lot 1426 in Jean Elsen sale 136 (Brussels, March 2018), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri III (1574-1589), AR demi-franc au col gaufré, 1588A, Paris. 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 half franc of the embroidered collar of 1588, Paris mint. Obverse: laureate and armored bust to right with flat collar; reverse: floriate cross, "H" at center. Fine to very fine.)"
The specimen shown was struck by the hammer at the Paris mint (mintmark "A") in 1588. The king's title, "HENRICVS.III.D.G.FRANC·ET·POL.REX," indicates his brief tenure as king of Poland. Duplessy lists this type for 1575-89. Many varieties exist, especially in the design of the king's collar. It had a face value of 10 sols tournois.
Recorded mintage: 106,846, a fairly common date.
Specification: 7.09 g, 0.833 fine silver, this specimen 6,95 g.
Catalog reference: Dupl-1131; Ci. 1430; Laf. 971, Sb 4716.
- 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 136: Collection Martiny, Collection Nef, Collection Casterman, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2018.
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