Lorraine 1635 teston
This specimen was lot 1735 in Sincona sale 47 (Zürich, May 2018), where it sold for 500 CHF (about US$600 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Lothringen, Herzogtum, Nicolas-François, 1634-1637. Teston 1635, Florenz. Sehr selten. Sehr schön. (duchy of Lorraine, Nicholas Francis, 1634-37, teston of 1635, Florence mint. Very rare, Very fine.)"
Altho the duke doubtless spoke French, he did not consider himself a subject of the king of France but rather of the emperor. The province would not fall under French domination until after the Thirty Years War and was not annexed until the death of the last duke in 1766. This teston, while scarce, was struck 1634-35 when Lorraine was under French occupation and the duke in exile. Wikipedia comments, "Nicholas Francis (1609-70), also known as Nicholas II, was briefly Duke of Lorraine and Duke of Bar for a few months in 1634, spanning the time between the abdication of his older brother and his own resignation."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 8.7 g, silver, 30 mm diameter; this specimen 8.69 g.
Catalog reference: Flon 707,2. MIR 319/2, KM 55.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Auction 47, World Coins and Medals, Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2018.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
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