France 1693-Ḿ 15 deniers

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Jean Elsen sale 146, lot 143

This specimen was lot 143 in Jean Elsen sale 146 (Brussels, November 2020), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Royaume, Louis XIV (1643-1715), billon 15 deniers (quinzain aux huit L), 1693, Metz (M couronné). Flan neuf. D/ Croix formée de huit L couronnés, cantonnée de quatre lis. R/ Ecu de France couronné. Très rare Gradé PCGS VF30. Beau à Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Louis XIV, 1643-1715, billon fifteen deniers or quinzain of the 8 L's, Metz mint, crowned M mintmark, new planchet. Obverse: cross formed of eight crowned L's, cantonned with four lilies; reverse: crowned arms of France. Very rare, Fine - Very Fine.)"

This fifteen deniers or quinzain was struck in large numbers 1692-1705 but most are dated 1696 or before. So many circulated that the king decreed that it was illegal to put these in sacks to make large payments. The regime of Louis XV tried to do away with billon coinage but found itself issuing billon sols and double sols.

Recorded mintage: unknown but few. None are known restruck.

Specification: 1.85 g, 0.208 fine silver, 22-25 mm diameter, plain edge, designed by Joseph Roëttiers.

Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 770, Dupl-1581; Gad-91; L4L 265.

Source:

  • 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]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 146: Collection Anthony Lorrain Monnaies de Metz, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2020.

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