France 1637-& 1/2 franc

Jean Elsen sale 160, lot 2266

This specimen was lot 2266 in Jean Elsen sale 160 (Brussels, November 2024), where it did not sell. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Royaume, Louis XIII (1610-1643), AR demi-franc, 1637 &, Aix. D/ B. juvénile à d., l., dr. et cuir., au col rabattu. R/ Croix fleuronnée et fleurdelisée, L au centre. Frappe faible au droit. Beau/Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Louis XIII, 1610-43, silver half franc of 1637, Aix mint. Obverse: laureate, draped and armored juvenile bust right wearing a large collar; reverse: floriate cross with an L at the center. Weakly struck on the obverse. Fine to very fine.)"

Shown is a half franc struck at numerous mints 1635-41. Another half franc (Dupl-1322) with a small flat collar, was also struck in 1637 but only at Toulouse (mintmark M) and Montpellier (N). These are not usually found heavily worn; the bad details result from bad dies and bad strikes. The face value was originally 10 sols, 7 deniers, raised to 13 sols, 6 deniers in 1636.

Recorded mintage: 83,033^[2].

Specification: 7.09 g, 0.833 fine silver, 27-29 mm diameter, engraved by Darmand Lorfelin, this specimen 6,78 g.

Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 58&, Dr/2 № 59, KM 118.3, Dupl-1326; Gad-41.

Source:

Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
^[2]Droulers, Frédéric, Répertoire General des Monnaies de Louis XIII à Louis XVI (1610-1792), 4e édition. Paris: AFPN, 2009.
Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 5me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2018.
^[1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 160, Collection de deniers liegeois et Collection de monnaies d'or francaises, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2024.

Link to:

France 1637-& 1/2 franc

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