France 1618-A franc
This specimen was lot 1641 in Sincona sale 47 (Zürich, May 2018), where it sold for 2,500 CHF (about US$3,000 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANKREICH, Konigreich, Louis XIII. 1610-1643. Franc au buste lauré et au col fraisé 1618 A, Paris. Essai/Probe. Stempel von Nicolas Briot. Sehr selten. Attraktives sehr schön. Kleine Randfehler. (kingdom of France, Louis XIII, 1610-43, franc with laureate bust and lace collar of 1618, Paris mint. Pattern, dies by Nicholas Briot. Very rare, Attractive very fine, Minor edge nicks.)"
The production of silver francs was suspended during the reign of Henry IV due to rampant counterfeiting. This pattern may have been produced as a project to reintroduce the denomination using milled coinage. This example is a double weight piefort.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 14.18 g, 0.833 fine silver, lettered edge, designed by Nicolas Briot, this specimen 40.2 mm, 30.50 g.
Catalog reference: Gadoury A42, unlisted in Droulers.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Droulers, Frédéric, Répertoire General des Monnaies de Louis XIII à Louis XVI (1610-1792), 4e édition. Paris: AFPN, 2009.
- Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 5me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2018.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Auction 47, World Coins and Medals, Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2018.
Link to:
- 1607-A franc, quadruple piefort
- 1617-C demi-franc de Saint-Lô au buste enfantin, lauré at au col fraisé
- 1617-B écu d'or au soleil
- 1618-A denier tournois au petit bust poupard col plat
- 1635-M demi-franc de Toulouse, buste juvenile lauré
- Coins and currency dated 1618
- return to French royal coinage (to 1793)