France 1658-A douzain
This specimen was lot 34581 in Heritage sale 3094 (Chicago, August 2021), where it sold for $3,360. The catalog description[1] noted, "France: Louis XIV Douzain (15 Deniers) 1658-A UNC Details (Cleaned) NGC, Paris mint. An immensely captivating selection of this notably rare issue, presenting an exceedingly fresh appearance for a series that is almost universally encountered in poorer states of preservation. Produced during a period of devaluation in the French billon coinage, this design is known in two primary weights--that of the standard Douzain of c. 1.84 gm, and that of a double-weight Douzain of c. 3.35 gm. Though an aborted general lease granted by the King's Council to Pierre Tissier provided for the formal minting of such pieces using dies engraved by Jean Warin, records suggest that the emission was recalled soon after issue by orders of the Conseil d'état. While several double-weight specimens have come to auction within the last decade, this is the sole specimen of the "standard" weight of which we are aware becoming available. Admittedly bound in its designation by minor wispy hairlines in the fields, the surfaces on the whole retain a marked brilliance and striking degree of originality, something quite impressive for a billon coin." Gadoury notes that this experimental type was initially valued at twelve deniers (hence the name), then raised to fifteen deniers, only to be reduced back to twelve deniers in 1679, by which time few were in circulation.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.85 g, 0.208 fine silver, this specimen 1.83 g.
Catalog reference: KM 197, Ciani-1976, Breen-273 (Extremely Rare; Wrong type pictured), Gad-86 (R4), Dupl-1579, L4L-169 (R4), unlisted in Droulers.
- Droulers, Frédéric, Répertoire General des Monnaies de Louis XIII à Louis XVI (1610-1792), 4e édition. Paris: AFPN, 2009.
- Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
- 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]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, ANA WFOM World & Ancient Coins Platinum Night Signature Auction #3094, featuring the Cape Coral Collection, the WTR Collection and the Monaco Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
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