Lorraine (1545-1608) teston
This specimen was lot 13123 in Ponterio sale 177 (Chicago, August 2013), where it sold for $822. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. Lorraine. Teston, ND (1545-1608). NGC EF-45. Charles III (1545-1608). Dark toned." In 1603, duke Karl, tho raised at the French court and married to a French princess, considered himself a subject of the German emperor; only in Louis XIV's time did Lorraine fall into the French sphere of influence and it wasn't annexed to France until 1766. As this coin is undated, we have filed it under the issues of 1545, the year Karl began his rule; stylistically, the bust matches much later issues, such as Dav-6901.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver.
Catalog reference: KM MB26, Roberts-9563; cf.Saulcy-pl.XXIII #7.
- Nicol, N. Douglas, Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of German Coins, 1501-Present, 3rd ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- Roberts, James N., The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD), S. Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, Ponterio sale 177: The August 2013 Chicago ANA Auction, World Coins, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers, LLC, 2013.
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