France 1595-K 1/2 franc
This specimen was lot 1505 in Jean Elsen sale 151 (Brussels, June 2022), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri IV (1589-1610), AR demi-franc, 1595K, Bordeaux. D/ B. l. et cuir. à d. R/ Croix fleuronnée, H en coeur. Frappe faible. Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Henry IV, 1589-1610, silver half franc of 1595, Bordeaux mint. Obverse: armored and laureate bust right; reverse: floriate cross, "H" at the center. Weakly struck, Very Fine.)"
The specimen shown is a demi-franc of Henry IV of France (r. 1589-1610) struck by the hammer at the Bordeaux mint (mintmark "K") in 1590-1605 and 1608. Each mint seems to have used a slightly different bust of the king. Sombart lists forty known for this date, making it very common.
Recorded mintage: 38,605 (Aubry) plus 18,078 (Malus).
Specification: 7.09 g, 0.833 fine silver, this specimen 6,95 g.
Catalog reference: Dupl-1212A; Ci. 1534; Laf. 1061, Sb 4748.
- 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 151: Collection Paul Witte, Monnaies de Brabant, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2022.
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