France 1588-G 1/2 franc

from the Mountain Groan Collection

The specimen shown is a demi-franc of Henry III of France (r. 1574-89) struck by the hammer at the Poitiers mint (mintmark "G") 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. It had a face value in France of 10 sols tournois.

Recorded mintage: 29,494, a common date but less so than the 1587-G.

Specification: 7.09 g, 0.833 fine silver.

Catalog reference: Duplessy 1131, Sb 4716.

Source:

• 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.
• Roberts, James N., The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD), S. Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996.

Link to:

• 1586-M franc
• 1587-A demi-franc au col gaufré
• 1587-B demi-franc au col plat
• 1587-G demi-franc
• 1587-K quart de franc au col plat
• 1588-C double tournois
• 1588-C douzain aux deux H
• 1588-A demi-franc au col gaufré
• 1588-K demi-franc au col plat
• 1589-M demi-franc au col plat
• Coins and currency dated 1588
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)