France 1611-B 1/2 franc
This specimen was lot 1095 in Jean Elsen sale 145 (Brussels, September 2020), where it sold for €460 (about US$656 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Louis XIII (1610-1643), AR demi-franc, 1611B, Rouen. 2e type. D/ B. enfantin à d., l. et cuir., au col fraisé. En dessous, B sur une couronnelle. R/ Croix fleuronnée et fleurdelisée, L au centre. Rare Frappe faible au droit. Très Beau. Provient d'Argenor, Paris, octobre 2000. (kingdom of France, Louis XIII, 1610-43, silver half franc of 1611, Rouen mint, second type. Obverse: laureate and armored bust right, in ruffed collar, below, a "B" and a coronet; reverse: floriate cross with an "L" at the center. Rare, weak strike on the obverse. Very Fine.)"
The demi-franc was struck the entire length of the reign of Louis XIII. Much variety exists between mints and between years but this date is noted as somewhat available. The Toulouse mint was still striking demi-francs with the bust of Henry IV. These are not usually found heavily worn; the bad details result from bad dies and bad strikes.
Recorded mintage: 11,052[2].
Specification: 7.09 g, 0.833 fine silver, 29 mm diameter, plain edge, engraved by Nicolas Briot, this specimen 6,30 g.
Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 41, Dr/2 № 33, Dupl-1307; Gad-35.
- [2]Droulers, Frédéric, Répertoire General des Monnaies de Louis XIII à Louis XVI (1610-1792), 2nd édition. Paris: AFPN, 1998.
- Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
- Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 5me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2018.
- 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 145, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2020.
Link to: