Lixheim 1633 teston
This specimen was lot 30524 in Heritage sale 3081 (New York, January 2020), where it sold for $1,200. The catalog description[1] noted, "France: Phalsbourg et Lixheim. Henriette de Lorraine-Vaudemont Teston 1633 VF Details (Obverse Scratched) NGC, Lixheim mint. A very rare emission produced in this minor principality by Henriette, the sister of Duke Charles IV of Lorraine, who had been granted the right to strike coins at Lixheim. Produced very much in the style of the 'official' issues of Lorraine--a practice assumed by a number of minor French principalities at the time--such testons were rapidly denounced by bordering territories, and the fortress of Lixheim itself was dismantled in 1634 to 1635." Henriette de Lorraine-Vaudémont (1605–1660) was the third child of Francis II of Lorraine; she married Louis de Lorraine, Prince of Lexin, son of Louis II, Cardinal of Guise, and had no issue; she later ruled in Pfalzburg/Phalsbourg. Lixheim is today an extremely obscure locale in eastern France, a commune of less than a thousand souls. It is not listed in the SCWC.
Recorded mintage: unknown but quite scarce.
Specification: silver, this specimen 8.97 g.
Catalog reference: KM-Unl., Boudeau-Unl., de Saulcy-Unl., cf. PdA-6277 (date given as 1635).
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3081, featuring the Caranett Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
Link to:
- Lixheim 1633 2 tournois
- Lixheim 1634 2 tournois
- Coins and currency dated 1633
- return to coins of Lorraine