France 1608-Z double tournois
This specimen was lot 956 in Jean Elsen sale 137 (Brussels, June 2018), where it sold for €70 (about US$98 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri IV (1589-1610), Cu double tournois du Dauphiné, 1608Z, Grenoble. D/ B. barbu, l. et cuir. à d. R/ Armes écartelées de France et Dauphiné en plein champ. Beau à Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Henry IV, 1589-1610, copper double tournois of Dauphiny of 1608, Grenoble mint. Obverse: laureate armored and bearded bust to right; reverse: quartered arms of France and Dauphiny in a plain field. Fine to very fine.)"
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 particular variety, with the lilies of France quartered with the dolphins of Dauphiny, was struck only in Grenoble and only in 1608. Paris and Lyon also struck doubles tournois in 1608.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.13 g, copper, this specimen 3,48 g.
Catalog reference: Dupl-1278; CGKL 250, Sb 4212.
- 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.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 137, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2018.
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