Metz 1611 12 gros
This specimen was lot 103 in Jean Elsen sale 146 (Brussels, November 2020), where it sold for €1,900 (about US$2,769 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, METZ, Ville, AR franc (12 gros), 1611. 1er type. D/ B. nimbé de saint Etienne à g. La date à l'exergue. R/ Ecu de la ville dans un cartouche orné. En dessous, X-II. Main bénissante en début de légende. Extrêmement rare Fines griffes. Beau à Très Beau. Ce type avec la main bénissante au revers n'existe que pour 1611. Il s'agit peut-être d'une frappe d'essai. Provient de Monnaies et Médailles, Bâle, 30 octobre 1979, 140 et de la collection Teitgen, Paris, 26-28 octobre 2015, 853. (city of Metz, silver franc of twelve groats of 1611, first type. Obverse: nimbate bust of St. Etienne to left, date in the exergue; reverse: arms of the town in a cartouche, value below. A hand of blessing at the beginning of the legend. Extremely rare, fine scratches. Fine - Very Fine. The type with the hand on the reverse was previously unknown for this date. It could be a pattern.)"
The town of Metz was occupied by the French in the 1550's but was not annexed until the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648. This rare type is listed in the SCWC for 1611-17, 1649, 1657.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 7,20 g.
Catalog reference: Flon 744, 2 (cet exemplaire illustré); coll. Robert 836 (dessin), KM 6.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 146: Collection Anthony Lorrain Monnaies de Metz, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2020.
Link to:
- Verdun 1611 florin d'or Fr-243
- Metz 1619 12 gros = franc
- Metz (1620-45) goldgulden Fr-164
- Metz 1621 3 gros = ¼ franc
- Metz 1621 6 gros = ½ franc
- Coins and currency dated 1611
- return to French royal coinage (to 1793)