France 1595-N double tournois
This specimen was lot 952 in Jean Elsen sale 137 (Brussels, June 2018), where it sold for €80 (about US$111 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri IV (1589-1610), Cu double tournois, 1595N, Montpellier. 2e type, avec titulature latine. D/ B. l. et cuir. à d. R/ Trois lis dans le champ. Légende fautive DOBLE TOURNOIS. Différent: tête de lion (Gabriel Ginet). Très rare Traces de corrosion. Beau à Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Henry IV, 1589-1610, copper double tournois of 1595, Montpellier mint, second type, with Latin titles. Obverse: laureate armored bust to right, error legend "DOBLE"; reverse: three fleurs-de-lys in the field, lion's head privy mark. Very rare, light corrosion, fine to very fine.)"
The specimen shown is a double tournois of Henry IV (r. 1589-1610) struck by the hammer at the Montpellier mint (mintmark "N") in 1595. Duplessy notes that this type was struck at Montpellier, Dieppe, La Rochelle and Paris 1592-99. Similar coinage is not rare in low grade. 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 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: unknown.
Specification: 3.18 g, copper, this specimen 3,36 g.
Catalog reference: Dupl-1276; CGKL 208, Sb-4184 (French legend).
- 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 137, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2018.
Link to: