France 1599-A double tournois
This specimen was lot 1516 in Jean Elsen sale 147 (Brussels, June 2021), where it sold for €90 (about US$132 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri IV (1589-1610), Cu double tournois, 1599A, Paris. 1er type. D/ B. l. et cuir. à d. R/ Trois lis dans le champ. Très Beau à Superbe. (kingdom of France, Henry IV, 1589-1610, copper double tournois of 1599, Paris mint, first type. Obverse: laureate and armored bust right; reverse: three lilies in the field. Very Fine - Extremely Fine.)"
The specimen shown is a double tournois of Henry IV of France (r. 1589-1610) struck by the hammer at the Paris mint (mintmark "A") in 1598-1610. The Paris mint was the only mint to strike the double tournois in 1599. Similar coinage are listed in the SCWC for Paris for 1603-10 and are 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. This type also comes with Latin legends (Sb-4188).
Recorded mintage: unknown but a common date.
Specification: 3.13 g, copper, this specimen 3,30 g.
Catalog reference: Dupl-1273; Laf. 1111; CGKL 222, 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 147: Monnaies, Médailles et Décorations, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2021.
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